Rethinking Work: Why Flexibility, Encouragement, and Community Matter More Than Ever
Freelance and self-employed work have often been viewed as perks. A lifestyle choice. A temporary fix between “real” jobs.
But for millions of professionals today, they are not just preferences, they are lifelines.
Chronic illness. Disability. Parenting without support. Caring for family members. Mental health challenges. Neurodivergence. Grief. Recovery. Survival.
Behind every polished portfolio is a person juggling real life, often quietly and without the safety net traditional employment once promised.
This is a reality I know firsthand. Like many others, I found that working on someone else’s schedule wasn’t sustainable. Life had other plans. But that didn’t make me any less committed to my work. It meant I had to find another way to show up and succeed.
And I’m far from alone.
In late 2023, around 2.65 million Canadians were self-employed 13.2% of the labour force. While remote work peaked at 40% during the pandemic, it has remained elevated, with one in five Canadians still working remotely in 2023.
These shifts reflect more than just a change in workplace preferences, they tell a story of adaptation and necessity.
We know from the data:
Women are more likely than men to pursue self-employment for better work-life balance, health reasons, or reduced stress.
Immigrants are more likely to turn to self-employment when they can’t find traditional employment.
Youth (15–24) are the most likely to rely on gig work in their main job, even though they’re the least likely to be self-employed overall.
Racialized self-employed workers and immigrant men are disproportionately represented in gig-based roles.
These statistics don’t just highlight who is working independently, they show us why.
For many, self-employment isn’t a backup plan or a passion project.
It’s a practical response to a system that doesn’t make room for their reality.
And most of these professionals?
They’re not running agencies or leading big teams.
72% of self-employed Canadians have no employees.
46.2% are sole proprietors operating unincorporated businesses.
Only 17.5% have a dedicated workspace.
79% work without business partners.
They’re doing meaningful work, often from home, in the margins of their day, fitting it around care, health, recovery, or simply trying to keep going.
We don’t talk enough about the quiet strength of these workers. The late nights. The shifting energy. The way they still show up.
It’s there. It’s real. And it deserves respect.
Over the years, I’ve met so many people who are brilliant at what they do, but who just needed one of three things to move forward:
A bit of encouragement. A first opportunity. Someone to believe in them.
Sometimes, all it takes is one great client, one piece of kind feedback, or one person willing to say, “You’ve got this.”
Talent isn’t rare. But belief? That’s harder to come by. And it makes all the difference.
There are communities forming around this idea: spaces where independent workers don’t have to justify their limits but are supported in rediscovering their strengths.
I’ve had the privilege of building one such space myself.
Not to replicate traditional job boards or agencies, but to reflect a different truth:
Not everyone needs a boss. Some people just need a way in.
The future of work isn’t only about tech and tools. It’s about trust. Empathy. Humanity.
If you’ve ever felt like you just needed a door to open, or a quiet moment of confidence from someone who sees your potential, you’re not alone.
And if you’re someone who can offer that to someone else, I hope you do.
Because we rise faster, and stronger, when we rise together.
Here’s to more flexibility, more understanding, and more people rising in their own time, on their own terms.
