I'd classify it into three groups for the UK... Perm - Mid level benefits + Pay (maybe options in a startup) Contractor - Individual with their own Ltd compan

I'd classify it into three groups for the UK... Perm - Mid level benefits + Pay (maybe options in a startup) Contractor - Individual with their own Ltd company, pays less tax and much higher take home pay but without any benefits. Consultant - On-site via a supplier on a framework of some kind, however, often a permanent employee of the supplier with the supplier cashing in the margin. At least 50% of the tech workforce in companies I work with or where peers are at in London are made up of contractors, especially in Banking.