Careers · Facts & sources
5 sourced facts about freelancing and independent work, each with the context behind the number. 4 more are in today's round and appear here after it closes.
Answer38% (64 million Americans)
That was an all-time high for the survey, up 4 million people from 2022. It counts anyone who freelanced in the past year.
Source: Upwork, Freelance Forward 2023 (2023) investors.upwork.com
Answerabout $1.27 trillion
Upwork says that's a 78% increase from $715 billion in 2014.
Source: Upwork, Freelance Forward 2023 (2023) investors.upwork.com
Answer5.6 million
That's nearly double the 2020 figure, out of 72.9 million independents counted in the report.
Source: MBO Partners, 2025 State of Independence in America (2025) mbopartners.com
Answer80.3%
Only 8.3% said they would prefer a traditional work arrangement.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Contingent and Alternative Employment Arrangements (2023) bls.gov
Answer11.5%
Independent contracting rises with age: it was 6.9% for ages 25–54 and just 2.2% for ages 16–24.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Contingent and Alternative Employment Arrangements (2023) bls.gov