- 51% will continue freelancing when they retire, with 7% already doing so
- 44% of senior freelancers use AI tools daily, demonstrating far higher tech adoption than commonly assumed for over-50s.
- 63% have actively chosen freelancing, overturning the belief that older professionals turn to self-employment out of necessity.
- 53% spend 2–6 hours a week upskilling, with a further 17% training more than 8 hours
London, December 4, 2025 – Senior freelancers are emerging as one of the most strategically valuable talent pools in the UK, according to Malt’s new Senior Freelancer Trends Report, done in collaboration with IPSE – the Self-Employment Association. The data reveals that 44% of freelancers aged 50+ use AI tools every day, 53% spend up to 6 hours a week upskilling, and 42% say that at least 3/4 of their projects involve strategic planning, consulting or leadership responsibilities.
These figures challenge widespread stereotypes that older professionals are less adaptable, less technical or less engaged with emerging tools. Instead, the report shows a senior freelance workforce that is agile, highly skilled and consistently operating at the heart of major organisational decisions.
Work, retirement and financial reality
With the state pension age rising and 14.6 million working-age people undersaving for retirement, more professionals in their fifties and sixties are extending their working lives. Freelancing offers them flexibility, control and the chance to stay active on their own terms – a trend now reshaping the UK labour market.
Moreover, when asked if they would continue freelancing after they retire, more than half (51%) said yes, with 7% already doing so.
Quentin Debavelaere, General Manager at Malt UK, said:“Senior freelancing is becoming a defining feature of the UK labour market. People in their fifties and sixties are rethinking how they work, not just due to personal circumstances, but also because freelancing lets them stay engaged on their own terms. This year’s Budget adds another layer of pressure for businesses. With national insurance already having had a massive impact last year and more responsibilities and constraints coming, many companies will face even less flexibility in how they operate. When uncertainty rises and hiring becomes harder, organisations turn to experienced freelancers to keep the light on until they have more visibility.”
A generation choosing independence rather than being pushed into it
The findings show that 63% of senior freelancers actively chose self-employment, seeking autonomy, meaningful work and alignment with their values. Only 21% became freelancers out of necessity, pushing back firmly against assumptions that over-50s freelance because they can’t secure employment.
At the same time, with the lifespan of technology skills shrinking, senior freelancers are keeping pace: over half invest 2–6 hours each week in training, while 17% dedicate more than 8 hours weekly to learning.
Professionals who have lived through multiple waves of technological change are now using this depth of experience to judge which tools matter and how to apply them effectively. In fact, they are enthusiastic early adopters of AI tools across writing, research, planning and strategy.
Why companies hire senior freelancers
The report highlights three clear reasons senior freelancers are now in high demand:
- Immediate operational impact, as 75% say this is the top strength they bring.
- Leadership and stakeholder management, developed over decades of diverse experience.
- Ability to foresee risks, shape strategy, and accelerate delivery in complex environments.
Vicks Rodwell, Managing Director at IPSE, said: “Still, many freelancers above 50 years old face the frustration of being underestimated because of their age, despite the fact that they represent one of the most skilled and committed parts of the UK’s flexible workforce. This report challenges outdated assumptions head-on and shows a group of professionals who are choosing independence, embracing new technologies, investing in their skills and shaping the future of work. If the UK wants a labour market that supports innovation and inclusive growth, we need to recognise the value senior freelancers bring and treat them accordingly.”
Major organisations such as Schneider Electric and L’Oréal are proactively integrating freelance pathways into their senior talent strategies. These programmes allow experienced employees to transition into part-time consulting, support younger colleagues, maintain operational continuity and apply decades of expertise to highly technical or complex assignments.
“The UK cannot afford to overlook this talent pool. Senior freelancers combine strategic expertise, operational maturity and a strong appetite for learning – exactly what organisations need when cost savings, flexibility and clarity matter most,” concluded Debavelaere.
About the report
The findings draw on Malt’s dataset of 43,000 freelancers aged 50+, an online survey of 821 senior freelancers across the UK and France, and a series of interviews with HR leaders and highly experienced independent consultants.
About Malt
Malt is Europe’s leading freelance management platform, co-founded in 2013 by Vincent Huguet (CEO). Over 90,000 companies of all sizes source, contract and manage external talents from Malt’s community of more than 900,000 highly qualified independent experts across every field – from tech & data to marketing and communication, to management consulting. Finding the right freelancer takes just seconds with Malt AI Search, contracting and payment are seamless, with built-in reporting and compliance, making Malt an end-to-end solution for freelance management. Operating across 9 countries in Europe and the Middle East, Malt achieved a business volume of over €800 million in 2024.
