Self-employment in Russia: state and potential for development

The article deals with self-employment as a new form of labor relations. It is noted that self-employment is a fairly broad concept that does not have a relevant assessment both in the ex­isting legal acts and in the public consciousness. The present situation reduces the effectiveness of the state policy towards citizens who have decided to engage in their own activities, and does not allow society to understand the importance of the institution of self-employment for socio-economic development of the country.The authors prove that formation of self-employment is an objective process resulting from changes in the model of modern economy. For example, we observe growth in the share of services in GDP, increasing mobility of the labor market, large-scale introduction of innovation and digital technolo­gies, new incentives and motives for labor, strengthening requirements to the level of competences of employees, the necessity to optimize production costs. The attention is mainly paid to the analysis of Russian labor market of self-employed. It is noted that despite the positive dynamics of indicators, the level of legal self-employment in our country is extremely low. It does not meet the requirements of national economy and the parameters adopted in developed countries.In order to promote entrepreneurial activities, reduce unemployment and informal employment, it is necessary to strengthen the state control. This will increase business activity and provide favorable atmosphere for the economic development. These measures should be aimed at establishing legal status of self-employed people, based on a multi-functional criterion, and at solving tactical and strategic tasks as well. The first group provides a complex of administrative, property, informa­tional, financial support for the self-employed. The other provides the formation of a new economic environment in the country, which will foster interest in self-employment on a legal basis.