RECORD numbers of people aged 60 and older are turning to self-employment as the cost-of-living crisis continues to bite, according to a study published today. 

Research by Rest Less found that workers over 60 account for more than one million out of the 4.3 million self-employed workers in Britain. 

Its analysis of 2023 figures found there had been a 33 per cent increase among this age group over the previous decade. 

Over 223,086 of the self-employed workers were aged over 70 and nearly half were aged 50-plus. 

Rest Less chief executive Stuart Lewis said: “The cost-of-living crisis of recent years has made it particularly challenging for those relying solely on their state pension and we’ve seen an increase in the number of people turning to self-employment to provide an additional income source and top up pensions whilst they still can.”