The number of residents engaged in own account work as a regular form of employment rose from 200,100 in 2016 to 223,500 in 2017. Residents who were engaged in own account work as their primary job accounted for this increase, making up approximately 8.4% of all employed residents, within the 8% to 10% observed in the last decade.

The majority of own account workers were engaged in own account work as a preferred choice. However, there was an increase in both the proportion and number who engaged in own account work as a non-preferred choice in 2017. Specifically among primary own account workers, the proportion rose from 19% in 2016 to 23% in 2017.

Primary own account workers tended to be older or less educated. They were commonly working in traditional occupations such as taxi drivers, working proprietors, insurance sales agents/brokers, real estate agents, as well as in newer occupations such as private hire car drivers. The top occupations in 2017 remained similar to 2016.