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:

Perceptions of freelancing continue to shift. Nearly three-quarters of freelancers say perceptions of freelancing as a career are becoming more positive, up from 68% in 2021.
Gen Z and millennials are the most likely to explore freelancing. In 2022, 43% of all Gen Z professionals and 46% of all millennial professionals performed freelance work.
More than half of freelancers provide knowledge services. Fifty-one percent of all freelancers, or nearly 31 million professionals, provided knowledge services such as computer programming, marketing, IT and business consulting in 2022.
Diversified workers became more common. Seventeen percent of U.S. workers now are diversified, meaning they seek multiple sources of income from a mix of traditional employment and freelance work, up three percentage points from 2021.
Freelancing continues to grow among the most educated. Twenty-six percent of all U.S. freelancers hold a postgraduate degree, up from 20% in 2021.
The majority of freelancers are happy with their career decision. Although professionals begin freelancing for various reasons, satisfaction levels continue to rise, with two-thirds of workers surveyed more optimistic about their job or career opportunities as a freelancer.
Two-thirds also say they feel more stimulated and happier with the freelance work they do compared to a traditional job. Nearly three-quarters say freelancing has given them greater control over their life, while other benefits include attention to their physical health and work-life balance.

Instant Insights /

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

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