Independent work: choice, necessity, and the gig economy

combined could grow up to 268 million 
Current state
Potential transitions within the 
working-age population
Million
Desired state
(combined with at least 
“somewhat likely” to pursue)
Primary 
independent
71
Supplementary 
independent
91
Working-age, not 
independent
1
425
Primary 
independent
135
Supplementary 
independent
133
Working-age, 
not independent
1
319
48 million
29 million
58 million
10 million
13 million

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73
McKinsey Global Institute
Independent work: Choice, necessity, and the gig economy
Independent work may engage millions of inactive, underemployed, or 
unemployed individuals 
Government data reveal that there are 232 million adults in the United States and the EU-15 
who are not working full time. Some of them choose not to work for a variety of reasons. But 
others in part-time roles would like to add hours, and still others are unemployed or inactive 
and discouraged by their job prospects. By our analysis, at least 100 million of these people 
would like to work, either part time or full time (Exhibit 24). They include unemployed people 
actively looking for work, inactive people who state they would like to work, and part-time 
workers who are underemployed. In all, some 20 million individuals in the United States and 
84 million in the EU-15 would like to work. Independent work has lower barriers to entry and 
offers the scheduling flexibility that many may need. 
The desire to increase earnings is particularly strong in Europe. Official data show that 
while two in ten people who do not work full time in the United States would like to work 
more hours, the corresponding figure in the EU-15 is four in ten. The largest difference 
is in the number of inactive workers who would like to earn more money, according to 
government data. This is consistent with a 2014 MGI survey, which found that eight in ten 
people surveyed across eight European countries would like to work more if the hours were 
flexible.
71
 
71
 
A window of opportunity for Europe
, McKinsey Global Institute, June 2015.
Exhibit 24
At least 100 million people in the United States and the EU-15 who are not working full-time 
would like to work more
SOURCE: Eurostat; BLS; McKinsey Global Institute analysis
85%
15%
NOTE: Numbers may not sum due to rounding. 
United States
EU-15
20 million people want to 
work more
▪
8 million unemployed
▪
5 million part-time involuntary
▪
6 million inactive want to work
110 million people
▪
22 million part-time voluntary
▪
88 million inactive and don’t 
want to work
58%
42%
84 million people want to 
work more
▪
19 million unemployed
▪
11 million part-time involuntary
▪
54 million inactive want to work
118 million people
▪
30 million part-time voluntary
▪
88 million inactive and don’t 
want to work
130
121
251
Full
time
Not
full
time
Not
full
time
134
202
336
Full
time
Millions of people

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McKinsey Global Institute
3. How independent work may evolve in the future
While many who are unemployed want to find another traditional full-time position, 
independent work can offer a bridge that allows them to continue earning until they find 
the right job. The long-term unemployed typically encounter even more daunting barriers 
to finding their way back into traditional jobs; many hiring managers are suspicious of 
gaps in work histories and wary about taking a chance on anyone who does not seem to 
be a “safe,” conventional candidate. Independent work could provide this segment of the 
population with options for reengaging in the labor market. 
Seniors, caregivers, and students could be prime beneficiaries of flexible 
independent work opportunities and propel growth
The flexible opportunities afforded by independent work are especially well suited to seniors, 
stay-at-home caregivers, and young people—all large and growing demographic groups 
with an interest in increasing work engagement but with significant time commitments or 
reluctance to take a 9-to-5 job. 
Seniors already are participating at higher rates in independent work
The senior segment of the independent workforce bears watching as waves of baby 
boomers continue to retire in advanced economies. Retirees make up 44 percent of the 
inactive population in the United States and between 30 and 50 percent of the inactive 
population in Europe (Exhibit 25). Since employers have historically encouraged employees 
to retire at “fixed” ages, it can be hard for this cohort to remain in traditional jobs. An Aegon 
survey found that only 23 percent of employers offer the option to move from full-time to