Independent contract workers
The gig economy experienced significant increases in 2020. COVID-19 lockdowns forced people to work from home and rely more on purchasing goods and services online, and these trends continued when restrictions were lifted. In 2023, nearly 64 million Americans, 38% of the U.S. workforce, were freelancers or gig workers, according to an Upwork report. Independent contract workers contributed $1.27 trillion to the U.S. economy.