Independent work: choice, necessity, and the gig economy

Exhibit 11
Responses from MGI Survey
Independent work is common in a wide variety of occupations and industries
SOURCE: McKinsey Global Institute analysis
Education 
and 
health 
services
Construction
Manufacturing
Financial 
activities
Agri-
culture,
forestry
Professional
and 
business 
services
Retail 
trade
Public 
administration
Information/
technology
Leisure 
and
hospitality
Transportation 
and
warehousing
Utilities
Wholesale 
trade
Other
services 
(excluding 
public 
administra-
tion)
Installation,
maintenance,
and repair
Engineering
and
architecture
professions
Education 
and 
training 
professions
Business
and finance 
professions
Health-care
professions
Management
Legal 
professions
Life,
physical
Construction
Specialty
retail
Trans-
portation
and 
shipping
Office and
administrative
support including
customer 
service
Computer
and technology 
professions including 
programming
Sales 
and 
marketing 
including 
customer 
service
Community
and social
Food
service
Artist,
designer
Size indicates 
total income earned
Share of independent income
Low
High
Occupations
Industries

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45
McKinsey Global Institute
Independent work: Choice, necessity, and the gig economy
Participation in independent work also may reflect specific industry pressures and 
broader trends in the growing gap in demand for high-skill vs. low-skill workers.
40
 In 
education, for example, 38 percent of independent workers participate out of necessity 
(compared with 30 percent overall). This could reflect the fact that when local budget 
cuts lead to layoffs, full-time teachers are forced to become substitute teachers or tutors 
to get by. Individuals with less education and skills are also more likely to participate 
in independent work out of necessity. In food service, for instance, 38 percent of 
independent workers participate out of necessity, potentially reflecting the need for 
temporary employment between jobs or difficulties obtaining more traditional jobs. By 
contrast, workers in the life sciences have skills that are in demand, in industries that 
are flourishing. As a result, 88 percent of independent workers in this field reported 
being independent by choice (as opposed to roughly 70 percent of independent 
workers overall).