Key messages Over a quarter of males with vocational qualifications were self-employed. By contrast, the rate for females was around 14%. The likelihood of self-employment varies according to demographic characteristics and occupation. Self-employed people with vocational qualifications are more likely to be older, married and to have been born in a non-English speaking country. The characteristics of the local labour market also influence the likelihood of self-employment. Higher unemployment rates in an area discourage vocationally qualified people from becoming self-employed. The local industry mix also influences the probability of self-employment. Many of the factors that influence the decision on self-employment are also relevant to the incomes of full-time workers, such as being born in a non-English speaking country, occupation and local unemployment rates. Employees generally earn more than self-employed workers. This, together with the finding that self-employment is more likely in a buoyant labour market, suggests that the self-employed are willing to sacrifice monetary income for other perceived benefits of self-employment. This paper is the second publication to come out of a research project investigating the labour market dynamics of workers with vocational qualifications. The first report, Where tradies work: a regional analysis of the labour market for tradespeople by Phil Lewis and Michael Corliss, is available from <>. Tom Karmel Managing Director, NCVER
Key messages Over a quarter of males with vocational qualifications were self-employed. By contrast, the rate for females was around 14%. The likelihood of self-employment varies according to demographic characteristics and occupation. Self-employed people with vocational qualifications are more likely to be older, married and to have been born in a non-English speaking country. The characteristics of the local labour market also influence the likelihood of self-employment. Higher unemployment rates in an area discourage vocationally qualified people from becoming self-employed. The local industry mix also influences the probability of self-employment. Many of the factors that influence the decision on self-employment are also relevant to the incomes of full-time workers, such as being born in a non-English speaking country, occupation and local unemployment rates. Employees generally earn more than self-employed workers. This, together with the finding that self-employment is more likely in a buoyant labour market, suggests that the self-employed are willing to sacrifice monetary income for other perceived benefits of self-employment. This paper is the second publication to come out of a research project investigating the labour market dynamics of workers with vocational qualifications. The first report, Where tradies work: a regional analysis of the labour market for tradespeople by Phil Lewis and Michael Corliss, is available from <>. Tom Karmel Managing Director, NCVER