The freelance lifestyle is on the greatest rise ever in America, according to the latest industry data. Why is this? It is because the freelance workforce is finally beginning to be recognized. They are doing amazing work and they’re living the digital nomad lifestyle they dreamed of.
The Data
Freelancers have already pulled in over $1 trillion so far in 2016. Growing from 53 million in 2014 to 55 million in 2016 and making up a full 35 percent of the U.S. Workforce. Louis Hyman, Associate Professor and Director of the Institute for Workplace Studies at Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations said “The freelance workforce is the fastest-growing component of the economy. Figuring out where it is going is the most pressing question of our digital age.”
The workforce only grew by one million from 2015 to 2016 but grew from 715 billion to about one trillion dollars in earnings. Freelancers are earning more and more each year. This leaves us to assume that more highly skilled workers are choosing to go into the freelance lifestyle. Focusing on the idea that you want to work to bette your life and not live to better your work.
Now take a deep dive into the data from the “Freelancing in America” report. This is the most comprehensive study of the U.S. independent workforce to date and you will see something great.
- 63 percent of freelancers say they started more by choice than necessity: Up by 10 percent from 2014 and full-time freelancers are feel overwhelmingly positive about their work. They are also considerably more likely than non-freelancers to feel respected, engaged, empowered, and excited to start each day.
- When you compare it to traditional employment, 79 percent of freelancers say freelancing is better. Half of them also stated that there’s no amount of money that would get them to take a traditional job and quit freelancing.
- The majority of freelancers that left a full-time job say they made more freelancing than they did with an employer within one year.
- Full-time freelancers also say they’re able to work less than 40 hours per week (36 hours/week on average). While making more money and feeling better about themselves.
The Future of Freelance Workforce
Some predictions show that the freelance workforce will make up half of the U.S. workforce by 2020. Even if it were to fall short of that goal, there is no ignoring that the freelance lifestyle is becoming increasingly attractive to people and why I, Nathan Harris, founded Ease. Making this lifestyle of freedom and professional fulfillment accessible from anywhere you are.
Reports also showed that 70 percent of freelancers want more discussion of how to develop and empower the independent workforce. This hidden group makes up over a third of the entire workforce. Making an immense impact on our society, the way we do business and our standards of what defines a quality life. Everyone in the world needs to be watching this movement with the goal of fostering this body of people. Allowing them to collaborate and ultimately innovate through numerous channels to create positive collisions.
The advancements in technology over the years have played a major role in the development of this community. If the freelance workforce was the Colorado River then the technology would be the Hoover Dam. Harnessing the power of this amazing group of people and giving them a place to connect. Then distributing their talents through the necessary channels to meet their consumers needs.
This is the future of not only America’s but the world’s workforce, so we hope that you’re ready for it.
