Self-employment refers to the situation where an individual works for themselves rather than being employed by a company or organization. This can include freelancers, independent contractors, and small business owners. Self-employed individuals are responsible for managing their own business operations, including finances, marketing, and customer relations. Being self-employed offers flexibility in work hours and the ability to choose projects or clients. However, it also comes with challenges, such as irregular income and the need to handle taxes and benefits independently. Many self-employed people use platforms like Upwork or Etsy to find clients or sell products.