This chapter assesses the quality of self-employment, focusing on earnings, job stability and the quality of work environment. This analysis differentiates between different types of self-employment, notably those with and without employees and considers differences in the quality of self-employment across different social target groups such as women, youth, seniors and immigrants. In addition, the chapter examines the current policy discussion on the quality of dependent and “false” self-employment. Policy advice is provided on improving the quality of new business start-ups and on addressing false self-employment.

This chapter examines the role that self-employment policies and programmes can play in helping displaced workers move back into work following major firm restructuring events that result in job loss. It presents data on recent restructuring trends in the European Union, including those that result in job losses and job gains. The chapter also discusses the role of public policy in helping displaced workers back to work, including the role of self-employment support measures, and illustrates this discussion with four case study examples from Finland, Sweden, Germany and the United Kingdom. It concludes with key lessons that can be drawn across these case studies and provides advice to policy makers on how they can consider and use business creation and self-employment measures to minimise the negative consequences of major firm restructuring.