Independent work: choice, necessity, and the gig economy

Key survey highlights
1
+40%
MGI's survey shows that the independent workforce 
is larger than government statistics indicate
% of total working-age population; million
2.2 million
people engaged in independent work
2
Supplemental
independent workers
Primary
independent
workers
37%
(3.0M)
35%
(2.8M)
15%
(1.2M)
13%
(1.0M)
Total
working-age
population =
8M
Individuals 
not earning 
income
Traditional workers
Size of non-earning population is lower than government 
statistics  as the data above capture
▪
One year of income history
▪
Many sources of income that may be in informal economy
Independent workers report higher satisfaction 
than traditional workers
Many workers aspire to be independent 
in their primary job
1 McKinsey Global Institute survey of six countries (United States, United Kingdom, Sweden, Germany, France, and Spain) in June 2016 with 8,131 records.
2 An independent earner is someone who chooses how much and when to work, moves between jobs fluidly, and typically has multiple employers, 
assignments, or clients over the course of a year. They can include the self
‐
employed, independent contractors, freelancers, business owners, and temporary 
workers (including those assigned through temporary staffing agencies).
NOTE: Numbers may not sum due to rounding. 
SOURCE: McKinsey Global Institute analysis
Supplemental

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126
McKinsey Global Institute
Appendix: Technical notes 
Last 5 years
Grew
Relatively 
flat
Fell
4.2 million
self-employed workers
% of working-age population
6%
8%
Compared to
4.7 million
temporary workers
% of working-age population
7%
6%
Compared to
2.0 million
workers with multiple jobs
% of working-age population
3%
2%
Compared to
GERMANY