Independent work: choice, necessity, and the gig economy

Young people can use independent work to earn income while they are in 
school or to take an initial step into the labor force
Independent work is uniquely suited to another cohort: young people. Many people under 
age 25 who are eligible to work are still in school; they need or would like extra income 
but must fit in paying work around class schedules and time for study. Those who are not 
in school are disproportionately likely to be unemployed—in Spain, for instance, youth 
unemployment is a staggering 55 percent. 
This group also combines a preference for flexibility, a greater willingness to take a wide 
range of entry-level jobs to build their work records, and an unprecedented level of comfort 
and fluency with technology. The idea of establishing a profile on a digital platform and using 
it to find work and conduct transactions is second nature to many of these digital natives. 
Given the size of the millennial generation—and of the generation coming up behind them—
young people could pave the way for new types of independent working styles to take root.