THE RISE OF THE ZZP’ER (SELF-EMPLOYED PROFESSIONAL) IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

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55% of all carpenters is self-employed (zzp’er), 37% of plasterers or wall-/floor finishers is zzp’er, and 28% of the bricklayers and interpolators is zzp’er. Of all the business in the construction sector, 15% is now done by independent professionals. The figures are taken from a recent publication of the Economic Institute of Construction (EIB). The Institute confirms a trend in recent years. The EIB predicts that, despite the crisis in the construction industry, the evolution towards more zzp’ers in construction continues and is expected to go on: 30.000 in 1999 to 79.000 in 2009 and possibly 125.000 in 2020. This development raises questions. Who is the zzp’er? What motivates him? Is it money, the beautiful van, his independent status? Or is there possibly more behind it? Could it be that businesses in the construction industry in general fail as employers? These and other questions gave rise to further literature- and field research into the backgrounds, characteristics, motivations and expectations of the construction-zzp’er, and into the reasons construction companies have to hire them. Furthermore: what are the implications for collaboration in the future? Is this the beginning of the end of the job in the construction industry?