Stable pay and social guarantees or freedom, higher incomes and personal responsibility? More and more professionals are considering leaving paid work and going freelance. However, it is important to understand the important differences and potential risks before making a choice.

Main differences

A salaried job offers stability: a fixed salary, tax payments and social guarantees. For example, a salaried lawyer in Latvia is paid at least €17.5 an hour before tax, and the employer pays all taxes.

Freelancers set their own pay. Lawyers can earn an average of €70 per hour, and up to €120 per hour in Estonia. But you should bear in mind that up to 50-60% of the income goes to taxes, which you have to pay yourself. Freelancing does not guarantee stability, but it offers the opportunity to earn more and work flexibly.

What skills should a freelancer have?

Freelancing requires different skills to those of a salaried worker:

– Decision-making – the ability to act independently and quickly.

– Stress resilience – work often involves instability.

– Communication skills – attracting clients, selling services, building relationships.

In fact, freelancing is a kind of entrepreneurship.

Freelancing in Europe

Freelancing is becoming increasingly popular in Europe. Countries cannot provide enough jobs, so more and more people are choosing to work independently. But the tax burden is not small: for example, an employee in Latvia would have to pay €1 236.26 to get a net income of €716. In Estonia, it costs €1 338 for an employee to receive €902 net.

The role of education

The labour market demands not only knowledge, but also soft skills – adaptability, teamwork, flexibility of thinking. Universities are increasingly focusing on these types of skills, and the role of lecturers is changing – they are becoming mentors, not just knowledge providers.

Conclusion

Salaried work offers security but limits potential growth. Freelancing offers more opportunities but requires more responsibility. Carefully consider your goals, skills and personal values before making a decision. This will be your professional strategy.