Independent work: choice, necessity, and the gig economy

30-42
%
share of survey 
respondents who 
were unaware they 
could use digital 
platforms to earn 
income

---

69
McKinsey Global Institute
Independent work: Choice, necessity, and the gig economy
THE INDEPENDENT WORKFORCE COULD GROW IF INDIVIDUALS PURSUE 
THEIR STATED PREFERENCES 
Our findings indicate that the independent workforce already encompasses as many 
as 68 million people in the United States and 94 million more in the EU-15, or roughly 
28 percent of their combined working-age population. But our survey results, combined 
with government data and other sources, lead us to believe that their ranks could grow even 
larger if more people opt to pursue the working style they prefer. Although the evidence on 
recent growth in the independent workforce is thin, available data suggest that it is already 
expanding in size.