Economic Pressure Presses Spanish Freelancers
In Spain, a notable share of self-employed workers faces a tougher year ahead. About a third expect their businesses to decline, and more than a third report slowed activity in the first quarter of 2023. Nearly half acknowledge stagnation over the past year, even as some progress is noted in personal weight management. This snapshot comes from the latest barometer published by the Self-Employed Workers Association, drawing on close to 1,200 surveys conducted just before Easter. The data also show that eleven percent of freelancers reduced their workforce at some point from March of the previous year to today, with another ten percent planning to downsize before the year closes.
The central challenge remains a broad rise in costs. The figures indicate that ongoing price and expense increases threaten the sustainability of many freelancers, as expenses outpace sales in several cases.
Specifically, eighty-five percent of surveyed business owners report higher spending compared with 2022, with most increases ranging from ten to thirty percent. Yet only twenty percent note higher revenue, while forty percent say sales stayed flat and twenty percent report a decline. This combination means shrinking turnover coupled with mounting costs squeezes margins and makes day-to-day operations a constant struggle for many freelancers, a reality echoed by commentary from the association last year.
As a result, only one in five freelancers anticipates growth in the near term, while seventy percent expect no significant change in activity.
Inflation, tax increases, and higher social charges are singled out as the primary threats to business continuity. Price surges, together with rising tax burdens, dominate concerns among self-employed workers; costs for raw materials, fuel, and electricity also contribute to the pressure. On the other side of the spectrum, freelancers worry about product shortages and higher interest rates, while rental costs are seen as the least problematic issue for most self-employed respondents.
struggles in micro‑enterprises
Against this backdrop, Cepyme warned that higher social contributions, the interprofessional minimum wage, and inflation have led to the loss of 3,900 micro‑enterprises between February of last year and February of this year. Although this decrease is 0.3 percent lower than the overall rate for small businesses, it marks a retreat from five months earlier. The impact appears to be concentrated in grouped activities and varies across sectors.
According to Europa Press, Cepyme’s analysis, based on official Social Security data, highlights that the decline in micro‑enterprises within certain sectors is particularly sharp in agriculture, cattle farming, and fishing, with noticeable effects also in industry and services. The drop in services is more modest, hovering around 0.1 percent. In contrast, the total number of small enterprise structures remains near a peak reached in 2008, suggesting a complex recovery pattern across the economy with sector-specific variations. This nuanced picture shows how macroeconomic pressures ripple through the smallest business units, even as larger small‑business numbers stay comparatively robust.
Experts emphasize that the intertwined forces of higher costs and slower demand create a challenging environment for freelancers. The data imply that without targeted support and strategic cost management, many micro‑businesses may face continued vulnerability in the months ahead. The overall trend points to a cautious outlook, with resilience shown by some segments but persistent risk for others, especially those most exposed to price volatility and energy costs.
For policymakers and industry observers, the clear takeaway is the need to balance inflation control with practical relief measures for self-employed workers. Increases in social charges and minimum wage levels must be calibrated to protect small operators without stifling entrepreneurship. Meanwhile, access to affordable energy and stable tax policies could help stabilize margins and sustain freelance activity across the economy.