Contracting in 2025

[mid_gen]

I'm being very lazy here, but hey ho.

I operated as a limited company contractor for a while, back in....must have been 2009-ish?

Thinking about going that route again. Can anyone just tell me what's changed? I'm aware IR35 changed a while back.....are most contracts just inside by default now?

 

[Mujja]

I've been in permanent roles for nearly a decade now. Occasionally, I check job ads to see which skills are in demand and have noticed that the majority, if not all, are inside IR35.

I only used an umbrella company for a couple of months before starting a LTD company. I remember them taking a big cut, including NI employee and employer contributions plus fees. I guess it's not as painful to use an umbrella company now, as it'll just be their fees.

 

[jaybee]

If you frequent reddit forums and even on here, there is a lot of talk about how contracting is "dead" in the UK and it's very hard to get roles these days. It will depend on your sector and expertise obviously, but the glory days do seem to over for a lot of people. I have seen a lot less roles outside IR35 for sure, but then, I see a lot less roles posted generally including permie ones. Market is tough.