For female freelancers, the average hourly wage is now higher than that of men, something that was unusual until recently. The tipping point has been reached and that demands attention from you as an employer. Not as a societal statement, but as a strategic indication. Because this trend also affects your hiring policy, rate agreements and the way you select talent.
The tipping point in figures
For years, the average hourly rate for women was lower than that for men, even after adjustments for sector, position and experience. This image has visibly shifted in recent years.
Our data shows that the average hourly rate for female self-employed professionals is now higher than that for men.
The income of female self-employed professionals has been growing faster for over ten years. CBS statistics show that women increase their hourly rates on average 1.7% faster than men each year. A difference that accumulates over the years and explains the current lead.
How does this difference arise?
The explanation is a combination of choices, market forces and shifting supply-and-demand ratios. Four factors stand out.
- Specialisation and senior roles
More women as self-employed professionals choose specialist and senior roles in sectors such as healthcare, policy and finance. These roles have stable demand and higher rates. - Rates rise with experience
Women who choose self-employment are more often at 'the top' of the market: experienced, with a niche profile and clear positioning. Among men, the group of self-employed is more diverse, with more variation in experience, resulting in a wider spread in rates. - Shift between sectors
In sectors where rates are under pressure, such as parts of ICT, relatively more men work. In perpetually tight sectors, such as healthcare and the social domain, many women are active. This difference is directly reflected in the figures. - More transparency
Platforms, benchmarks and market reports provide insight into rates. This encourages equal pay for equal work.
What does this mean for you as a client?
This trend says everything about how the market works: experience, scarcity, and employability carry more weight than profile or background. If you select sharply on these values, you gain more control over quality and profitability. And this directly translates into results for your organisation.
Pay attention to three points:
- Don't be blinded by averages
Within every profession, the range remains large. Junior, mid-level, and senior vary widely. Look at employability and results, not just the starting rate. - Compare apples to apples
Job titles say less than content. Two professionals with the same title sometimes deliver completely different value. A good intake prevents surprises later. - Use data as a conversation partner
Transparency works both ways. With current market data, you conduct the conversation about rates factually and on equal terms. That speeds up decisions and increases trust.
Equal pay requires sharp commissioning
The disappearance of the traditional rate gap is good news. At the same time, it raises the bar for you as a client: equal pay requires conscious procurement.
With fixed rates per role, you run less risk. Especially now that enforcement on sham self-employment requires extra attention for substantiation and consistency.
Data helps you with this. It shows where rates are rising and where there is still room. This way, you build a predictable and strategic hiring model.
This is not an endpoint
The expectation is that women will further extend their lead in the coming years. The growth rate is higher, and the influx into strong segments continues. At the same time, the market remains in motion. Scarcity shifts, technology changes functions, and new roles emerge.
For you as a client, this is an opportunity. The question is not who earns more, but who you need tomorrow to keep growing.
Do you want to see exactly which trends will determine the rate landscape for self-employed professionals in 2025 and what the forecast for 2026 is? Download the latest Talent Monitor and get immediate access to all figures, graphs, and analyses.
