Self-employed workers in Canada have increased their hourly rates by an average of 25 per cent over the past two years, far exceeding the country’s inflation rate, according to a new study by freelance.ca.
The study of freelance platform members shows independent workers are successfully managing rising costs while many traditional employees struggle with wages that lag behind inflation. Canada’s Consumer Price Index rose 2.4 per cent in 2024.
The average hourly rate for freelancers now sits at $56, the Quebec City-based company reported Wednesday.
Income satisfaction remains high despite challenges
More than 75 per cent of freelancers expressed satisfaction or neutral feelings about their income, according to the study findings. The research suggests most independent workers view their financial situation as improving consistently.
However, gender pay gaps persist in the freelance sector. Women earn an average of 11 per cent less per hour than men, the study found.
Growing freelance workforce impacts labour market
The income trends affect a significant portion of Canada’s workforce, with more than 2.7 million freelancers now operating across the country.
Traditional employment sectors have seen wages fail to keep pace with rising costs, making the freelance income growth particularly notable for employers and HR professionals tracking labour market shifts.
Platform expansion continues
Freelance.ca launched in 2023 as part of freelance.group, which began operations in Germany in 2007. The platform reports over 30,000 active freelancers registered in Canada, including more than 6,000 self-employed workers in Quebec.
The company describes itself as one of Canada’s leading platforms in the self-employment sector. Additional study data is available on the company’s website.
