EN
The economic system is a whole, which is composed of various elements. The labor market is one of the elements. Self-employment i san alternative form of employment, that belongs to the so-called atypical forms of employment benefits. It is for people who are not able to find employment ora re unable to accept available jobs, with thei professional aspirations. This is a particulary attractive way of functioning and earning during the economic downturn. The article presents the most important rules and concepts of selfs-employment in Poland, the advantages and disadvantages of this form of employment, as well as the status and dynamics. The statistical data allowed for analysis of the phenomen and see how developed a numer of self-employed economic slowdown.