The Professional Contractors Group (PCG) has expressed disappointment that the Prime Minister failed to acknowledge the vital and increasing role played in the UK economy by freelancers and the self-employed.

Commenting on a speech made by the Prime Minister in Manchester on Friday, PCG policy officer John Kell, said: "The Prime Minister discussed the workforce exclusively in terms of the outdated concept of employers and employees. His speech made many references to the need for flexibility in the labour market but did not at any point acknowledge that people who work for themselves on a freelance basis are a key source of that flexibility.

"Freelancers make an annual contribution to the UK's GDP of £100bn. They are a highly skilled, highly flexible workforce. The Prime Minister spoke repeatedly of the desirability of empowering individuals and improving the quality of work yet failed to acknowledge that people who chose to freelance represent the best example of empowered workers who are extremely satisfied in their work" he added.

PCG says it is the second snub this week from the government after the Chancellor, Gordon Brown, told a committee of MPs that he had raised tax for small firms in order to counter East European scams.