A Snapshot of the Onsite Freelance & Contractor Workforce: Who They Are and How They Will Change Your Talent Strategy

With over 17.7 million independent workers in the US workforce (up from 10.3 million in 2005), it is clear that we are in the midst of a transformational moment in the world of work. The number of independent workers is expected to grow to over 50 million by 2020 as the freelance economy becomes a fixture of the US Economy (Micha Kaufman, “Five Reasons Half of You Will be Freelancers in 2020,” Forbes, February 28, 2014).

Based upon what we see at Work Market, industries such as information technology and telecommunication, retail merchandising, promotional marketing, digital signage, medical device service, and facilities management - just to name a few - are turning to freelancers, contractors, and consultants in droves. In these industries, freelance work is quickly becoming the go-to extended workforce model.

The growth of onsite local work represents the next evolution of the freelance economy. Initially, freelance work was primarily focused on one-o virtual projects for small to mid-size businesses. This is due to the relative ease in which virtual freelance work can be managed. This is not the case for work that’s done in a physical location. Software solutions to accommodate the complex processes associated with onsite work have taken longer to develop - but they are here now.