The "Freelance Forward: 2023" report by Upwork reveals a significant shift in the U.S. labor market towards freelancing. With 64 million Americans, or 38% of the workforce, now freelancing, the sector contributes $1.27 trillion annually to the economy. The study highlights increased use of generative AI among freelancers and a rise in skilled knowledge services. It underscores freelancing as a growing preference across generations, offering flexibility and autonomy in work.
Freelancers now comprise 38% of the U.S. workforce as professionals of all ages seek flexible work models
SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 12, 2023 Upwork (Nasdaq: UPWK), the world’s work marketplace that connects businesses with independent talent, today released the results of “Freelance Forward: 2023,” the 10th annual comprehensive study of the U.S. independent workforce. The study found that 64 million Americans performed freelance work in the past year, an all-time high, representing 38% of the entire U.S. workforce, and an increase of 4 million total professionals from 2022.
Upwork's Freelance Forward survey, a representative study of 3,000 professionals, found freelancers contributed approximately $1.27 trillion in annual earnings to the U.S. economy in 2023. In a year where prolonged economic uncertainty has converged with the rise of new technologies such as generative AI, record numbers of the U.S. workforce are embracing skilled freelancing as an alternative to traditional career pathways.
“The data tells us that freelancing continues to play a vital role in the U.S. workforce. An increasing number of Americans are seeking greater flexibility, autonomy and earning power when it comes to their work, and they are finding it with freelancing,” said Margaret Lilani, VP of talent solutions at Upwork. “Not only are freelance professionals building meaningful careers on their own terms, but they are also at the forefront of embracing new technologies, like generative AI. The survey shows us freelancers are more likely to regularly use AI tools in their work than non-freelance professionals; they are quickly understanding the importance of upskilling to augment workflows and create better outcomes for clients.”
Key findings of the report include:
“I’ve been a freelancer for over ten years and it’s been remarkable to witness the extraordinary ascent of the freelance economy. It’s not just a trend—it's a dynamic shift in how we work and thrive,” said Samer Bazzi, a full stack marketer who has freelanced on Upwork for over a decade. “It’s no surprise more and more professionals are seeking alternatives to traditional 9-to-5 models in favor of flexible work arrangements because of the control it provides over one’s career.”
To read the full report, visit the Upwork Research Institute.
About Upwork
Upwork is the world’s largest work marketplace that connects businesses with independent talent from across the globe. We serve everyone from one-person startups to large, Fortune 100 enterprises with a powerful, trust-driven platform that enables companies and talent to work together in new ways that unlock their potential. Our talent community earned over $3.8 billion on Upwork in 2022 across more than 10,000 skills in categories including website & app development, creative & design, customer support, finance & accounting, consulting, and operations. Learn more at upwork.com and join us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X, formerly Twitter.
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