Small firms opting for freelancers

Research has found small firms are increasingly using self-employed workers for specific tasks rather than hiring a full-time worker.

Small firms are increasingly using self-employed workers rather than hiring full-time staff. (AAP)

Australian small businesses are increasingly hiring self-employed workers to undertake specific, short-term tasks rather than committing to full-time employee contracts.

A survey by business solutions provider MYOB found nine out of 10 small and medium-sized enterprises have used such workers in the past six months and would do so again.

MYOB CEO Tim Reed said the changing shape of Australia's workforce, and the widespread increase of shared economy websites like AirTasker across all industries, has meant businesses are becoming more comfortable with a different hiring approach.

"By taking advantage of freelancers, business owners can free themselves up to look for new opportunities for business growth, without sacrificing business profitability, customer service or losing peace of mind that important tasks aren't being looked after," Mr Reed said on Thursday.

While small firms still rely on traditional recommendations for freelancers, such as other small business owners (46 per cent) or family and friends (44 per cent), 15 per cent of respondents said they had used an app or website to find a short-term staffer.

Almost three-quarters of business owners aged below 40 are more likely to use a self-employed worker for specialised work, compared to 40 per cent of bosses aged over 40.