Popularity of freelancing on the rise as 4 in 10 workers participated this year

Two-thirds of workers surveyed more optimistic about their job or career opportunities as a freelancer.

The impact of the employment paradigm shift that has taken place over the past few years likely will last well beyond the end of the pandemic.

“The unprecedented global shift to remote work created by the pandemic transformed the public’s notion of work and the workplace, and has had a lasting impact on how people view their jobs and careers,” according to the Freelance Forward 2022 survey from Upworks. “In 2022, an increasing percentage of the U.S. workforce turned to freelancing opportunities to find greater professional fulfillment, flexibility and financial stability, and a new approach to managing their career trajectory.”

Nearly 4 in 10 U.S. workers – or 60 million people — performed freelance

work in the past year, an increase from the previous year. Freelancers contributed approximately $1.35 trillion in annual earnings to the U.S. economy, which is $50 billion more than in 2021. Among the other key findings:

Related: In tight labor market, 4 in 10 full-time employees are considering the shift to freelancing

As more young workers continue to freelance, the trend is likely to continue.

“Freelancing continues to grow as a viable career choice for many U.S. professionals, especially those seeking greater flexibility and control,” the report says. “It also bodes well that younger generations are embracing freelance work en masse.”