Self-Employment in the Remote Work Market: Diffusion of Innovative Labor Practice

Over the last decade at least one million of Russians and citizens of other post-Soviet countries have been self-employed in the Russian-speaking market of remote work available in the Internet. Based on a unique monitoring data taken from the study «Freelancer census» (2009—2014), the authors show that more and more people try this innovative labor practice. The shares of women and freelance workers from other states and remote Russian regions are increasing; professional variety is strengthening. Those workers who are more mature, educated and skilled choose freelance career self-consciously. At the same time, informal type of employment that involves high risks and social vulnerability can be a barrier to continue online activity. The authors chose FL.RU website and used random venue-based sampling to conduct the survey.