Independent work: choice, necessity, and the gig economy

Exhibit 18
A closer look at Spain shows that the macroeconomic environment shapes the independent workforce
SOURCE: OECD;  Eurostat; McKinsey Global Institute analysis 
Responses from MGI Survey
EU-15 and Spain
Youth 
unemployment 
rate, 2015
% youth labor force
Total 
unemployment 
rate, 2015
% labor force
Growth in GDP 
since 2008
Compound annual 
growth rate, 
2008–15
%
48
20
2.4x
Spain
EU-15
22
10
2.2x
-0.6
0.2
Macroeconomic indicators
Higher participation in independent work…
40
58
45
63
EU-15
Spain
… and a higher share of participation out of necessity
Preference for participating in independent work
% of independent earners
Choice
Necessity
32
42
Youth
independents
(% of youth earners)
Total
independents
(% of total earners)

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61
McKinsey Global Institute
Independent work: Choice, necessity, and the gig economy
Exhibit 19
The demographics of workers on digital platforms can vary significantly
SOURCE: Hall and Krueger, 
An analysis of the labor market for Uber’s driver-partners in the United States
; Airbnb survey and data; Upwork data; McKinsey 
Global Institute analysis