MBO Partners announced on Nov. 30 that the number of Americans working independently has reached 64.6 million, marking a 26% increase from the previous year and a total growth of 69% since 2020.
The findings come from the company’s annual State of Independence report, which is now in its twelfth year and is considered one of the most comprehensive studies on the American independent workforce. The surge in independent work reflects changes brought about by the pandemic and shifting attitudes toward traditional employment.
According to MBO Partners, more than half of all Americans have freelanced or are currently freelancing at some point in their careers. The report highlights that there are now both record numbers of payroll jobs—153 million—and people working independently. The old perception that payroll jobs diminish the independent workforce appears to be changing as more workers seek autonomy over their economic futures.
Miles Everson, CEO of MBO Partners, said: “Beyond the pandemic and macroeconomic climate, the underlying factor driving the thrust in independent work is institutional mistrust. We don’t trust institutions to have our best interests at heart and our proof points have mounted as we have faced the challenges of the past few years. As we have come to question our view of security, workers have realized that creating a job is no greater risk than having a traditional job.”
The study identified several key trends: Full Time Independents—those working more than 15 hours per week—increased by 27% since last year; occasional independents tripled from 2020 to reach nearly 32 million; younger generations such as Millennials and Gen Z now make up half of this workforce; diversity among independents continues to grow; and incomes for many independents are rising—with over four million earning above $100,000 annually.
Looking ahead, MBO Partners projects that by 2025 more than half of all Americans will either be working independently or will have done so at some point in their careers.
