Skilled tradesmen are self-employed, and work as contractors to their clients. Software developers who work as independent contractors generally own their own

Skilled tradesmen are self-employed, and work as contractors to their clients. Software developers who work as independent contractors generally own their own equipment and software (in Australia that's actually one of the legal criteria for determining whether someone is a contractor or an employee for taxation purposes). Whereas employees generally use company-supplied hardware and software, which is to the employer's benefit as they have full control over it. But that's really by the by; whoever is procuring software to be used for commercial purposes, it is reasonable to expect they would purchase commercial licenses to help fund the development of their tools.