The past year has been difficult for most, but particularly for women, with studies showing that COVID-19 has disproportionately affected women’s lives, both personally and professionally. This has been felt especially hard by female freelancers, with 43% affected by the gender pay gap and 49% receiving late payments each month. Despite this, freelancing remains a fast-growing industry for women, with 58% now considering starting a business of their own or finding freelance work.

Data from the ‘Coronavirus and the gendered economic impact’ report also reveals that women have been at a particularly higher risk of job loss during the pandemic, being a third more likely to be employed in sectors such as travel and tourism, childcare, beauty and non-essential retail, all of which have been forced to close during the pandemic.

Women have also been more likely than men to be furloughed, made redundant and take on more hours devoted to childcare and non-developmental care. This data not only highlights the widening of the gender gap that the pandemic has created, but also the need for women to find alternatives to the traditional workplace.

Future Strategy Club recognises that freelance work gives women back control, allowing them the ability to shape what they want their career to look like, from flexibility and better income prospects to higher job satisfaction and overall happiness. Future Strategy Club champion and support all freelancing females, at every stage of their career, ensuring equal pay and opportunities for every female freelance member.

Avalyn Kasahara, Membership Director at Future Strategy Club comments on the future of freelancing being female and the importance of women in freelance work:

“This year has been particularly tough for women, with many suffering from the gendered economic impact of COVID-19. Nevertheless, more women are looking towards starting their own business or beginning freelance work. Freelancing empowers women to gain control of their careers by becoming their own boss.

Freelancers are a vital part of our economy, with more than five million self-employed people in the UK, representing 15.3% of workers. Female freelance talent is particularly important at the moment, with COVID-19 meaning many women are looking towards a new way to work.

At Future Strategy Club, we are working to make freelancing more accessible at every stage of a career, whether that be after a long period of full-time work or straight out of university. There needs to be support for these individuals and we hope to be able to provide this with equal pay and opportunities for every female freelance member.”