Contractor Profile

In 2026, respondents report taking an average of 22 holiday days, up one day from 2025 and in line with 2024. Most contractors continue to take relatively limited time off. 66% report taking fewer than 23 days in the year, broadly unchanged from 2025. While 34% take longer breaks of 23 days or more, extended holidays remain uncommon. The data highlights a cautious approach to time off, perhaps a reflection of the opportunity cost of time off and associated financial risks of independent work.

The survey results for 2026 indicate that higher income and job autonomy remain the primary motivations for contracting. Both are identified by more than three quarters of respondents as factors that caused them to become contractors. Job autonomy increased in importance with a rise from 69% to 74% since last year.

Opportunities for growth and engagement also remain significant motivations. In both 2025 and 2026, 63% of respondents agreed that contracting offers the chance to gain new expertise, and ‘doing more interesting work’ also remained high, increasing from 65% in 2025 to 69% in 2026. This highlights that contractors are not only motivated by pay and flexibility, but also by learning, variety, and fulfilling project work.

The average day rate increased at the tails of the age distribution and declined for all other age groups. The average daily rate for contractors aged 29 and below increased from €359 to €380 while contractors aged 60 experienced their daily rates increasing significantly from €656 to €705. Daily rates fell from €480 to €467 for the 30–39 group while those for the 40–49 dropped from €587 to €539. Contractors aged 50–59 experienced a more modest decrease from €618 to €611 but remain well above the mean. The upward monotonic relationship between age and day rates highlights the high value organisations place on experienced and proven contractors.

Contractors remain positive in 2026! 84% of respondents expressed satisfaction with their current life in general. Contractors also continue to report high levels of satisfaction with their work, 87% in 2026 up from 84% in 2025. In the survey, contractors were asked about their level of satisfaction with other key elements of their job and working life.

In 2026, flexibility of hours remains the strongest driver of satisfaction at 85%. Satisfaction with job location was down marginally from 84% to 83%. Satisfaction with pay also fell this year from 84% in 2025 to 81% in 2026. Satisfaction levels with remote working options increased to 76%, compared with 74% last year, while work–life balance also shows an increase this year 77% up from 75% in 2025.

Satisfaction with career success fell from 89% in 2025 to 84% in 2026. Satisfaction with progress towards overall career goals also declined, from 84% to 79%, however both remain high in absolute terms. In 2026, contractor wellbeing indicators dropped, 29% of contractors report loneliness and 17% report burnout. Both are higher than in 2025, perhaps signalling increased pressure even as overall work satisfaction and flexibility remain strong.