Independent work: choice, necessity, and the gig economy

Exhibit 28
SOURCE:  BLS; Eurostat; McKinsey Global Institute analysis
Some occupations are compatible with independent work
Description
Example occupations
Transient workers
Workers with widely available skills, in jobs with high 
turnover or seasonality

Food service

Retail sales
Experts
Workers with specialized, scarce skills who can split their 
time between multiple clients or employers, given the 
demand for their services

Computer scientists

Doctors
Generalists
Workers with widely available skills, in jobs made up of 
discrete tasks and easily transferable knowledge

Electricians

Drivers
Project-based 
managers
Managers in project-based occupations

Construction 
managers
Traditional 
“company workers”
Workers in jobs that consist of discrete tasks but require 
some contextual knowledge

Accountants

Metal workers
Managers
Managers or executives with ongoing, typically non-
project-based work

Managers

Executives

Production supervisors