Upwork released their 2019 Freelancing in America study. It's the 6th year Upwork has conducted this study.
The study found about 57 million Americans are freelancing. This equates to 35% of the workforce.
One of the most interesting study findings is that almost half of all freelancers report they are freelancing because their personal circumstances don't allow them to hold down a traditional job.
As the study chart below shows (click to enlarge), health issues and family obligations are the two main reasons people report not being able to work in a traditional job.
These findings illustrate the importance of the "low friction, highly flexible" work options freelancing provides.
Low friction means it's quick and easy to start earning money as a freelancer, especially with the advent of online marketplaces like Upwork, Airbnb, Etsy and Uber.
Highly flexible means freelancers can work as little or as much as they want or need and when they want or need. This means freelancers can fit work in around other activities, including schedule limitations due to health or caregiving responsibilities.
We've long pointed out that many people need greater levels of schedule flexibility than is provided by traditional jobs.
This is especially true for those needing to work part-time to supplement their income.
More broadly, flexibility is almost always the top reason people become and like being a freelancer. And Upwork's study again found this, with over 3 out of 4 freelancers listing this as a major reason they are freelancing.
Many critics of freelancing say flexibility is overrated or doesn't really exist, especially for gig workers who get their work via online platforms and marketplaces.
We tend to believe freelancers and gig workers over these critics. And they consistently tell us work flexibility is both important to them and real.
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