More than a fourth of the U.S. is now officially part of the freelance gig economy. In the future, more and more people of all ages and ethnicities will declare their independence from the 9-to-5 daily corporate grind for the freedom, autonomy, and self-determination that the freelance, gig economy lifestyle brings.
A new report from Spera, a provider of tools and resources for freelancers and entrepreneurs, contains the following statistics about the freelance aka “freedom economy.”
You might find these to be of particular interest if you’re considering throwing off the corporate cloak to take on the freelance mantle.
Gig/Freedom/Freelance Economy Statistics
U.S. Statistics
One in three Americans is a freelancer, making the sector a critical part of the labor market.
- Nearly 54 million Americans participated in some form of independent work in 2015. That’s more than 33 percent of the entire U.S. workforce and is an increase of 700,000 workers over the previous year.
- Some researchers project that half of the working U.S. population will move into the gig economy within the next five years.
- About 1 in 12 U.S. households — more than 10 million people — rely on independent work for more than half of
their income.
Global Statistics
The U.S. isn’t the only place where the gig economy is thriving; the same phenomena is occurring across the globe.
- Half of the United Kingdom’s working population will be self-employed in the next five years, estimates say.
- The European Union saw a 45 percent increase in the number of independent workers from 2012 to 2013.
- Independent workers comprise the fastest growing group in the European Union labor market.
- India’s independent workforce, the second largest in the world at 15 million, fills about 40 percent of the world’s freelance jobs.
Economic Impact of Independent Workforce
Not only is the size of the independent workforce growing, but so is its contribution to the economy.
According to the report, in 2014, online freelance marketplaces like Upwork,OneSpace and Freelancer helped independent workers generate more than 1.1 trillion dollars in total revenue in the United States alone.
Millennials in the Gig Economy
Although the gig economy spans all age groups, Millennials make up the largest portion.
- More than one-third of Millennials are independent workers.
- In 2015, Millennials became the largest demographic age group in the workforce.
- 32 percent of Millennials believe they will be working “mainly flexible hours” in the future.
Technology as the Driving Force
Technology has made it easier than ever before to enter the gig economy.
Mobile devices have untethered workers from their desks; social media now connects people across borders, and online freelance marketplaces make finding work easier.
- 87 percent of Millennials say their smartphone never leaves their side, night or day.
- Nearly half (45 percent) use personal smartphones for work (vs. 18 percent for older generations).
- Some 41 percent are likely to download applications to use for work purposes in the next 12 months and use their own money to pay for them.
- 80 percent use social media as a means of finding work.
Challenges Freelancers Face
As appealing as the “freedom economy” sounds, significant challenges have to be faced that include marketing, cash flow, business management and healthcare costs.
- 63 percent of those interviewed in the report say marketing is the most important expense to grow their business.
- 57 percent report experiencing cash flow issues at times during the year.
- 64 percent use some form of project management software.
- 70 percent use software to track finances.
- 40 percent prefer to get paid via direct deposit versus other forms (e.g., check, PayPal).
Conclusion
Millions of people around the globe are opting for greater independence in their work lives. As a result, they are joining the growing movement that is the gig economy. Advances in technology have made it easier to accomplish than ever before.
Though it is not without challenges, more and more people are finding that the rewards of the gig economy outweigh the risks and that the lifestyle it offers provides the kinds of freedom and independence they could never experience in the corporate world.
