Freelancing in New York City 2019

EDELMAN INTELLIGENCE / © 2019
Freelancing in
New York City 2019
July 2019
EDELMAN INTELLIGENCE
An independent study conducted by Edelman Intelligence and commissioned by Freelancers Union, Upwork, and the
NYC Mayor’s Office of Media & Entertainment

STUDY OBJECTIVES
Starting in 2014, Freelancers Union and Upwork have commissioned a comprehensive annual survey of the nation’s independent workforce. This
year, we have partnered with the NYC Mayor’s Office of Media & Entertainment, in order to study the freelance workforce in New York City and to
guide our work at Freelancers Hub, a training space and resource center in Brooklyn, designed to help freelancers thrive. Our study is guided by
the following objectives:
1. Quantify freelancing in New York City overall
2. Assess attitudes and perceptions of freelancing in general and in New York City
3. Understand the unique challenges freelancers face
4. Surface opportunities and insights relevant to how Freelancers Hub can best support freelancers New York City
This deck is organized in sections to detail results on each objective, with notable findings among Media & Entertainment freelancers throughout.
2

NYC Workers Overall
U.S. adults 18+ who have earned
income from work within the past
12 months, including both
freelancers and non-freelancers
Freelancers
Individuals who have engaged in supplemental, temporary,
project- or contract-based work, within the past 12 months
Non-freelancers
Individuals who earned income through work but have not
engaged in supplemental, temporary, project- or contract-
based work, within the past 12 months
N=3272
N=1728
N=5,000
N=432
METHODOLOGY
• An online survey of 5,000 adults residing in New York City who have done paid work in the past 12 months.
• To be considered a NYC resident in this study, respondents had to live in one of the five NYC boroughs (Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, or Staten Island),
but could perform work in the greater NYC metro area.
• Data collected March 22, 2019 – April 18, 2019 by independent research firm Edelman Intelligence.
• Results were weighted to ensure demographic representation in line with the 2017 New York State American Community Survey. Data was weighted geographically to
represent the population distribution of the employed population by borough. Within each borough, data was weighted by the following demographics: age, gender,
education, race.
• Audiences surveyed:
3
Margin of error: NYC Workers Overall: ±1.3% at the 95% level of confidence. NYC Freelancers: ±2.3%, NYC Non-freelancers ±1.7%, Media & Entertainment freelancers ±4.7%
Percentage point differences between audiences are noted where applicable and noteworthy in the report.
Media &
Entertainment
Freelancers
Freelancers who
work in the following
industries: film or
television, journalism
or digital media,
music or performing
arts, marketing or
advertising or
publishing
3

KEY FINDINGS
More than one-third of New York City workers freelance.
• 1.3 million New Yorkers have performed freelance work in the past 12 months or 34% of New York City’s workforce, with an estimated annual
economic impact of $31.4 billion in earnings from freelancing.
• Those engaging in freelance work tend to be younger, and many are entering the workforce as freelancers, including 46% of recent college
grads (20-26).
• Freelancers are putting together diverse income streams by accessing work in different ways: most don’t have a single employer but get their
work from a variety of sources such as employers, freelance, temporary, or supplemental work.
New York City is a unique and promising place to work for freelancers, with most intending to stay in the area for at least the short term.
• A majority of people who freelance (6 in 10) say opportunities in NYC are more attractive than in other places in the United States. They
particularly feel that they can earn more money (57%) and more easily build a client network in NYC (56%).
• 6 in 10 plan to remain freelancing in New York City for at least the next 3 years.
Freelancers have a higher level of satisfaction with their work than non-freelancers.
• More than two-thirds of freelancers say they freelance because it allows them to have a flexible schedule, be their own boss, and choose their
own projects.
• Freelancers are more likely than non-freelancers to say their work provides them with upward mobility (+12 ppts) and appropriate pay (+8 ppts).
• Freelance work is more likely to make them feel accomplished (+7 ppts), excited to start each day (+12 ppts), and empowered (+9 ppts)
compared to non-freelancers.
4

KEY FINDINGS
Freelancers face complex challenges — and an uncertain income.
• Freelancers’ primary concern is access to affordable healthcare—not surprising, as 36% of them report paying more in health premiums this
year than last.
• Freelancers also worry about managing their day-to-day finances (51% feel anxious or concerned), collecting payments for services (73%
have experienced nonpayment or late payment), and being on track for retirement (52% do not feel on track).
• Half of freelancers also feel anxious about the unpredictable nature of their work.
When it comes to training, freelancers are actively updating their skills and believe that freelance business skills like marketing,
networking, and financial management are critical for success.
• Most freelancers (60%) are updating their skills to ensure they are marketable as the job market evolves, and 56% have participated in
skills-related training in the past 6 months (versus only 43% of non-freelancers).
• To succeed as a freelancer, 82% are looking for more training to improve business-related skills, including marketing their work, networking
with prospects, or financial management.
• Unfortunately, cost is a barrier. A majority (57%) of freelancers say that cost gets in the way of obtaining the training they need.
• Three-quarters of NYC freelancers say building a network—through friends, family members, clients, or professional contacts—is critical to
earning more income. And 61% would like better access to affordable coworking or workspace options in their neighborhoods.
5

KEY FINDINGS:
MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT FREELANCERS
Freelance work is prevalent in New York City’s robust media and entertainment sectors.
• 61% of these sectors’ workers have engaged in freelance work in the past 12 months, including:
o 68% of journalism or digital media workers
o 67% of music or performing arts workers
o 60% of marketing or advertising workers
o 54% of publishing workers
o 52% of film or television workers
• On average, for an individual, freelancing accounts for 52% of their total personal income (versus 45% for all freelancers).*
Media and Entertainment freelancers are more likely to freelance as a means of following their passions and see it as a long-term career
choice.
• 7 in 10 freelancers in this sector are motivated to freelance to pursue work they are passionate about (versus 63% for all freelancers).
• 65% view freelancing as a long-term career choice, rather than as a temporary way to earn money, compared with 53% for all freelancers.
They have ongoing concerns about finding enough work and managing unpredictable income.
• Media and entertainment freelancers are significantly more likely than those in other sectors to say they have less work than they want (+7ppts).
• More than two-thirds (78%) of media and entertainment freelance workers have experienced late or nonpayment, compared with 73% of all
freelancers.
• They are more likely than other freelancers to feel anxious about their work in general (+8 ppts) and about the unpredictable nature of it (+10 ppts).
*See calculations on page 22.
6

KEY FINDINGS:
MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT FREELANCERS
Networking and marketing their skills are especially crucial for this group to find more work and build their income
• Media and entertainment freelancers are more likely than freelancers overall to say they find their work through networking (+7 ppts) and 81%
of media and entertainment freelancers say networking is critical to earning more (versus 76% for all freelancers).
• Not surprisingly, the number one reason for them to participate in skills-related training is to expand their professional network (47%) — and
networking skills are something that media and entertainment freelancers are looking for more training in (40% versus 34% of all freelancers).
• The cost of training is unfortunately a greater barrier, with 60% saying costs hinder training (compared with 57% of freelancers).
7

STATE OF
FREELANCING
IN NYC
8

34%
Q31_2. Over the past year, how much money did you earn in total from freelancing, before taxes or other deductions?
Earning calculated by multiplying average income from freelancing in past year ($23,434) by the number of freelancers (1,341,837).
Base: NYC Freelancers = 1728
* Population numbers of NYC workforce and Freelance workforce is based on a 2017 American Community Survey where the number of employed workers ages 19-64 years old in New York City was 3,946,579.
FREELANCERS MAKE UP A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF WORKERS IN NYC –
1 IN 3 NYC WORKERS ARE FREELANCING; THAT’S ROUGHLY 1.3M PEOPLE
of NYC workers
have freelanced in the past 12 months
1.3M freelancers,
out of 3.9M NYC workers*
Totaling
$31.4B
in annual earnings from
freelancing
9

Diversified Workers (35%) – People with multiple sources of income from a mix of traditional employers and freelance work. For example,
someone who works part-time at a start-up, manages an Airbnb, and does freelance coding.
Independent Contractors (33%) – These “traditional” freelancers don't have an employer and instead do freelance, temporary, or supplemental
work on a project-to-project basis.
Moonlighters (20%) – Professionals with a primary, traditional job who also moonlight doing freelance work. For example, a corporate-employed
web developer who does projects for non-profits in the evening.
Freelance Business Owners (6%) – These freelancers have one or more employees and consider themselves both a freelancer and a business
owner. For example, a social marketing guru who hires a team of other social marketers to build a small agency, but still identifies as a freelancer.
Temporary Workers (6%) – Individuals with a single employer, client, job, or contract project where their employment status is temporary. For
example, a data entry worker employed by a staffing agency who is working on a three-month assignment.
10
NYC FREELANCERS EARN THEIR INCOME IN DIVERSE WAYS;
MOST ARE EITHER DIVERSIFIED WORKERS
OR INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS

ON AVERAGE,
JUST UNDER HALF
OF EACH INDIVIDUAL
FREELANCERS’
ANNUAL TOTAL
PERSONAL INCOME
COMES FROM
FREELANCING
Avg % of Total Personal Income That Comes From
Freelancing – In Past 12 Months
(on an individual level*)
45%
Q31_2: Over the past year, how much money did you earn in total from freelancing, before taxes or other deductions?
Q79_5: Over the past year, how much money did you earn in total from all work, before taxes or other deductions? (Personal income only, not household income)
*Note: These percentages were calculated by looking at the amount of total personal income and income from freelancing on an individual basis. Respondents were removed from the calculation if they opted out
from providing an income amount in either question or if their freelancing income amount exceeded their total personal income from all sources.
Base sizes for these calculations are as follows: Freelancers = 981
11

EDELMAN INTELLIGENCE / © 2019 12
FREELANCERS WORK WITH NUMEROUS CLIENTS EACH MONTH, TYPICALLY
PROVIDING SERVICES FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
Size of Clients in Past Month
By number of employees
Q31_8: Approximately, how many different clients have you had in the past six months as part of your freelance work?
Q101: Thinking about your freelance work in the past month, how big have your clients been? Please use your best estimate. You may choose more than one to represent varied clients.
Base: NYC Freelancers = 1728, M&E Freelancers =432
Freelancers have had
83%
14%
7% 9%
Small Businesses
(1-100 employees)
Medium Businesses
(101-1000
employees)
Large Businesses
(1000+ employees)
Other
freelancers/Others
different clients
in the past 6
months
28

Q31: Which of the following best describes your current freelance work?
Q31_1: Which of the following best describes the amount of work you are currently doing?
NEARLY ONE-THIRD ARE FREELANCING FULL-TIME AND THE MAJORITY
SAY THEY HAVE ENOUGH WORK
Describes Freelance Work Describes Amount of Work
20%
50%
29%
Full-time
employee who
earns extra
income from
freelance work
Part-time
Full-time
34%
66%
Less than they
want
Amount they
want or more
13

52%
17%
12% 12%
7%
Under $50k $50K-$74.9K $75-$99.9K $100K-$149.9K $150K or more
$50K or more
48%
$75K or more
31%
…ABOUT HALF ARE EARNING $50K OR MORE ANNUALLY IN TOTAL
PERSONAL INCOME
Annual Total Personal Income Earned From All Sources

Q2: What is your current age?
Q47: How long ago did you start freelancing?
Base: NYC Workers = 5000, NYC Freelancers = 1728, NYC Millennials = 1902, Recent Graduates = 525
% who have freelanced
in past 12 months
FREELANCERS TEND TO BE YOUNGER, WITH MANY ENTERING THE
WORKFORCE AS FREELANCERS
70%
of freelancers began
freelancing
less than 5 years ago
39%
46%
of NYC millennials
(22-34)
are freelancing
of NYC recent college
grads*
are freelancing
*Recent college grads defined as those who are between the
ages of 20-26 who report having achieved at least a bachelor’s
degree.
15

Q70_NYC: You indicated you live in New York state. Which of the following counties do you live in?
FREELANCERS RESIDE
IN EVERY BOROUGH
OF THE CITY…
% of Borough Residents Who Have done
Freelance Work in Past 12 Months
How to read: 30% of Bronx residents, have done freelance work in
past 12 months.
43%
Of residents freelance
30%
30%
33%
26%
16

Freelancers
11%
12%
15%
15%
16%
17%
2%
2%
NYC Workers
% Work in Borough
48%
47%
How to read: 47% of freelancers work in Manhattan.
7% Freelancers
8% NYC WorkersOther:
BUT MANHATTAN IS
A CENTRAL HUB
FOR FREELANCE
WORK, AS WELL AS
FOR TRADITIONAL
EMPLOYMENT IN
NYC
Q6B_NYC: And, in which of the counties of the New York metro area do you primarily perform this work?
Base: NYC Workers = 5,000. NYC Freelancers = 1728
17

STATE OF
FREELANCING
IN NYC: MEDIA &
ENTERTAINMENT
SECTORS
18

61%
of Media & Entertainment
workers in NYC have freelanced
in past 12 months
313K freelancers,
out of 513K M&E workers*
Totaling to
$9.4 billion
in annual earnings from freelancing
6 IN 10 MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT WORKERS PERFORM FREELANCE WORK –
EARNING MORE THAN $9B ANNUALLY
of NYC workers do freelance work in
Media & Entertainment industries (9%)
1 in 10
Q6a: In which of the following industries do you work? [Multiple Select]
Q31_2. Over the past year, how much money did you earn in total from freelancing, before taxes or other deductions?
Earning calculated by multiplying average income from freelancing in past year ($29,930) by the number of M&E freelancers (312,964).
Base: M&E Workers = 694, M&E Freelancers = 432
*Population of NYC workforce is based on a 2017 American Community Survey where the number of employed workers ages 19-64 years old was 3,946,579.
19

MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT WORKERS FREELANCE ACROSS MANY
DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES
% of M&E Sector Workers who Have Freelanced in Past 12 Months
68% 67%
60%
54% 52%
Journalism/
Digital Media
Music/
Performing Arts
Marketing/
Advertising
Publishing* Film/TV
Q6a: In which of the following industries do you work? [Multiple Select]
Base: Journalism/Digital Media Workers = 236, Music/Performing Arts Workers = 179, Marketing/Advertising Workers = 225, Publishing Workers = 66*, Film/TV Workers = 111
*Small base size (less than 100). Data is directional in nature.
20

Temporary Workers, 3%
Freelance Business
Owners, 9%
Moonlighters, 12%
*Starting with the general NYC workforce, each respondent ran through a series of questions that carefully qualified their employment status and income in order to detect freelancing activity that
might otherwise go unrecorded.
Base: M&E Freelancers = 432, Non-M&E Freelancers = 1329
Independent
Contractors:
“Traditional” freelancers:
no employer, instead do
freelance, temporary, or
supplemental work,
38%
Diversified
Workers:
Mix of traditional
employers and
freelance work,
38%
Type of Freelancer*
[Among M&E Freelancers]
See Notes section of slide for details on each of the freelancer segments
More M&E FLs tend to be independent
contractors than non-M&E freelancers (32%)
MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT FREELANCERS ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS
21

Q24: How often do you engage in freelancing?
Base: M&E Freelancers = 432
Q31_2: Over the past year, how much money did you earn in total from freelancing, before taxes or other deductions?
*Note: These percentages were calculated by looking at the amount of total personal income and income from freelancing on an individual basis. Respondents were removed from the calculation if
they opted out from providing an income amount in either question or if their freelancing income amount exceeded their total personal income from all sources.
Base sizes for these calculations are as follows: M&E Freelancers = 229
52%
Avg % of Total Personal Income That
Comes From Freelancing –
In Past 12 Months
(Among M&E Freelancers, on an individual level*)
43%
31%
9% 8% 9%
Daily Weekly Bi-weekly Monthly Less than
monthly
Frequency of Freelancing
[Among M&E Freelancers]
74% freelance at least weekly
THREE QUARTERS FREELANCE AT LEAST WEEKLY, AVERAGING ABOUT
HALF OF THEIR TOTAL ANNUAL INCOME FROM FREELANCING
22

WHY FREELANCE IN NYC?

TO FREELANCERS, NYC IS A PROMISING CITY IN WHICH TO WORK…
…feel they can make more money freelancing in New York
City compared to other cities in the United States (57%)
6 in 10
Freelancers
…feel the freelancing opportunities in New York City are
more attractive than other areas in the United States (57%)
…feel it is easy to build a network of clients in New York
City (56%)
Q44_4: Please indicate your agreement with these additional statements about freelancing.
% Agree
24

“This is one of three
locations in the USA that
has the majority of what
I do.” – Male, Age 57, Staten
Island resident
“”Big arts community and
easy to find clients who are
willing to pay full costs for
work with no hassle.” – Male,
Age 26, Queens resident
“The entertainment industry
is thriving here and that’s my
chosen industry. Also, [I work
here] because of the
accessibility of public
transportation” – Female, Age
28, Queens Resident
“It has the largest pool of
potential employment
opportunities and offers a
rich variety of projects in my
field.” - Male, Age 67, Bronx
resident
IN THEIR OWN WORDS, FREELANCERS AGREE THAT NYC HAS THE MOST
OPPORTUNITY FOR WHAT THEY DO, AMONG OTHER REASONS…
Q35C: And, why do you choose to freelance in the New York City metro area specifically?
Freelancers in the
Film or Television industry…
In the Digital Media industry…
In the Music and Performing Arts
industry…
25

FREELANCERS ARE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES IN NYC
AND PLAN TO STAY AT LEAST FOR THE SHORT-TERM
87%
Think there will be more
opportunities for freelancers in New
York City metro area in the future
(vs. less opportunities)
Q44_4: Please indicate your agreement with these additional statements about freelancing.
Q56: Do you believe there will be more or fewer opportunities for freelancers in New York City metro area in the future?
Plan on freelancing in
the New York City area
for the next 3 years
61%
% Agree

EDELMAN INTELLIGENCE / © 2019 Q48: Which is closer to the reason you originally started freelancing? [Choice/Necessity]
Base: NYC Freelancers = 1728, M&E Freelancers = 432, Gen Z FLs = 158, Millennial FLs =730, Gen X FLs = 579, Baby Boomer FLs = 261, Less than $K = 607, $50K-$74.9K = 203, $75K-$99.9K =
144, $100K+ = 237
Freelancers started by choice…
Choice
Necessity
Freelancers by Generation
Freelancers by Total Income Level
38% 35%
62% 65%
Freelancers M&E Freelancers
30% 35% 42% 36%
70% 65% 58% 64%
Gen Z
(18-21)
Millennials
(22-34)
Gen X
(35-54)
Baby Boomers
(55+)
Choice
Necessity
38% 41% 36% 36%
26%
62% 59% 64% 64%
74%
Less
than $25K
$25K-$49.9K $50K-$74.9K $75K-$99.9K $100K+
Choice
Necessity
IN FACT, MOST FREELANCERS SAY THEY CHOOSE TO FREELANCE

EDELMAN INTELLIGENCE / © 2019 Q35b:Please indicate the degree to which each of the following is a reason why you freelance?
Q36: Which is closer to how you view freelancing? [A temporary way of making money/A long-term career choice]
Base: NYC Freelancers = 1728, M&E Freelancers = 432
Reasons for Freelancing
Showing Top 5
M&E freelancers are more likely to
be driven by interest (+7ppts to
pursue passion, -12ppts to earn extra
money)
…and freelancers see it as a
long-term career choice
53%
vs.
47%, a temporary way of
making money
65%
vs.
35%, a temporary way of
making money
70%
69%
68%
69%
63%
63%
67%
69%
69%
75%
To pursue work one
is passionate about
To choose own
projects
To be own boss
To have flexiblity in
schedule
To earn extra
money
Freelancers
M&E Freelancers
FREELANCING IS ATTRACTIVE FOR ITS ABILITY TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL
INCOME AND FLEXIBILITY
28

“Because of personal circumstances I am not able to work for a traditional
employer on an ongoing basis, but freelancing gives me the flexibility I need”
% Agree
Q44_2: Please indicate your agreement with the following statements about freelancing.
Base: NYC Freelancers = 1728, Full-time Freelancers = 495, Freelancers with children = 637, Freelancers who are single parents = 147, Freelancers who have a family member with a disability = 393
Single parents are even more likely to
say freelancing gives them the
flexibility they need (47%)
35%
40% 43% 44%
Freelancers Total Full-time freelancers Freelancers with children Freelancers who have a
family member with a
disability
IT EVEN PROVIDES WORK OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT ABLE
TO WORK AT A TRADITIONAL JOB
29

FREELANCERS ALSO SAY THEY EXPERIENCE APPROPRIATE PAY AND
UPWARD MOBILITY IN THEIR WORK, MORE SO THAN NON-FREELANCERS
76% 74% 74% 73% 71%
66% 65%
55%
59%
43% 41%
63%
54%
62%
Gives me autonomy
and freedom
Provides the
opportunity to pursue
work I am passionate
about or find
meaningful
Gives me flexibility to
work when I want
Gives me flexibility to
work where I want
Provides pay
appropriate for my
skill-level
Provides opportunity
for upward mobility
Offers a long-term
career path
Q23_18: In your opinion, how well do each of the following characteristics apply to your work? <Top 2 box, applies completely, applies somewhat>
Base: NYC Freelancers = 1728, NYC Non-Freelancers = 3272, M&E Freelancers = 432
Freelancers Non-Freelancers
% Applies to Work
+8 +12
M&E more likely to enjoy flexibility in
when (80%) and
where (79%) they work
+15
30

24%
35%
62%
61%
75%
32%
43%
71%
73%
82%
Feel exploited
Feel anxious
Feel empowered
Excited to start each
day
Feel accomplished
Freelancers Non-freelancers
Feelings About Work
% Applies completely/somewhat
Q21_1: Thinking about your work, how well do each of the following descriptions apply to how it makes you feel?
Base: NYC Freelancers = 1728, NYC Non-Freelancers = 3272, M&E Freelancers = 432
+7
+12
+9
Diff vs. Non-
freelancers
+8
+8
Positive
Negative
+x
+4
+5
+4
M&E vs. Freelancers
+6
+5
Compared to
freelancers overall,
M&E Freelancers are
especially likely to
both voice
Positive
and
Negative
feelings about
their work
FREELANCERS HOLD MORE POSITIVE FEELINGS ABOUT THEIR WORK;
HOWEVER, THEY ALSO EXPERIENCE DRAWBACKS MORE DRAMATICALLY
THAN NON-FREELANCERS
31

CHALLENGES FACED BY NYC
FREELANCERS

EDELMAN INTELLIGENCE / © 2019EDELMAN INTELLIGENCE / © 2019
Top 10 Concerns for Freelancers in NYC
[Showing those selected as top 2 concerns]
#1
Concern
21%
19%
18% 18% 17%
16% 16%
14%
12%
10%
23%
17%
16%
18%
19%
14%
18%
13%
16%
8%
Access to
affordable
healthcare
Being paid a fair
rate
Debt High taxation
rates
Unpredictable
income
Saving for
Retirement
Difficulty
finding work
Being able to
put enough
money into
savings
Non-payment or
late payment for
work
Having
opportunities
for career
growth
NYC FREELANCERS’ TOP CHALLENGES ARE LARGELY FINANCIAL, LED BY
A LACK OF AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE OPTIONS
33
Q78_1: How would you rank each of the following issues in terms of your level of concern? [% ranked in Top 2 Most Concerning] Note: issues ranked below top 10 not shown

Q78_5: Do you currently have health insurance? Base: NYC Freelancers = 1728, M&E Freelancers = 432
Q78_6: How do you get your health insurance?
Freelancers who have health insurance = 1545
Q78_7: Do you currently pay more or less in health insurance premiums than you did last year? Base: Freelancers who have health insurance and know how much they paid in premiums = 1388,
Freelancers who buy their own insurance and know how much they paid in premiums = 271
RISING
HEALTHCARE
COSTS ARE
ESPECIALLY
WORRISOME
TO FREELANCERS
36%
say they are paying more
in health insurance
premiums than they did
last year
45%
of freelancers who
purchase their own
insurance are paying more
in health insurance
premiums than they did
last year
Of the
89%
who currently have
health insurance
&
34

Q29_NYC: Please indicate whether the following statements describe you or don’t describe you.
Q31_5: In the past year, did you put money into savings?
% Describes Me
…they are not as prepared for the future
40% of freelancers are not prepared
for a financial emergency
Even though freelancers feel financially stable right now…
41% did not put money into their
savings in the past year
of freelancers do not feel on
track for retirement52%56%
74%
76%
79%
I can take two weeks
of unplanned leave
I can make loan
payments on time
I have a financial plan
I can live within my
own means
of freelancers feel anxious or
concerned about their day-to-
day management of finances
51%
UNCERTANITIES ABOUT THEIR FINANCIAL FUTURE ARE ALSO APPARENT
AMONG FREELANCERS, EVEN THOUGH MANY CURRENTLY FEEL
FINANCIALLY STABLE
35

73%
say they experience
nonpayment or late
payment
from clients
Q102_NYC: How often do you...?
Base: NYC Freelancers = 1728, 18-21 yo. Freelancers = 158, M&E Freelancers = 432
Only
35%
of freelancers
always use
contracts
36
How often do you….?
[Among freelancers]
Only 23% of 18-21 year
old freelancers always
use contracts (vs. 36%
older freelancers)
% Sometimes/Always/Rarely
Higher among
Media &
Entertainment
Freelancers (77%)
FREELANCERS EXPERIENCE UNIQUE CHALLENGES IN PROTECTING THEIR
WORK

WITH ALL THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES FREELANCERS FACE IN THEIR
ROLES, STRESS AND ANXIETY AROUND WORK ARE APPARENT
Q21_8: Please indicate how much you agree with each of the following statements on freelancing [Strongly/Somewhat agree shown].
feel anxious about all that they have to
manage (i.e., financials, taxes, insurance,
etc.) as a freelancer
feel anxious because of the
unpredictable nature of my work as a
freelancer
50%
46%
Among freelancers…
[% Strongly/somewhat agree]
M&E freelancers are especially
anxious due to the
unpredictability of their work
(60%)
37

SKILL TRAINING FOR A MORE
STABLE FREELANCING
FUTURE

More than half of
freelancers have
participated in skill-
related training
in the past 6 months
Q21_3: When was the last time you participated in any skill-related education or training?
NYC Freelancers = 1728, Non-Freelancers = 3272, M&E Freelancers = 432
% Participated in skill-related education
or training in past 6 months
56%
43%
60%
Freelancers Non-Freelancers M&E Freelancers
FREELANCERS PLACE VALUE ON EDUCATION AND TRAINING – THEY ARE
SIGNIFICANTLY MORE PROACTIVE IN UPDATING THEIR SKILLS THAN NON-
FREELANCERS
39

60%
of freelancers
are updating their skills
to ensure they are
marketable as the job
market evolves
20%
22%
34%
37%
38%
40%
41%
42%
44%
To transition to a new field
To learn how to manage a freelance business
To learn about new work opportunities
To get more work by learning marketable skills
To earn more by getting higher-paying skills
To expand my professional network
To keep up with changing technologies
To become an expert or retain my expertise in my
chosen field
To stay up-to-date with developments in my field
Q102: How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements?
Q21_5: Why do you participate in skill-related education or training?
Base: NYC Freelancers who have taken training = 1573, M&E who have taken training = 400
Why do you participate in skill-related education or training?
% Strongly or somewhat agree
47% among
M&E
Freelancers
THEY ARE UPDATING SKILLS TO REMAIN MARKETABLE IN THEIR FIELD -
MOTIVATED TO KEEP UP WITH INDUSTRY TRENDS, EXPAND THEIR
NETWORK, AND EARN MORE
40

Q21_3_NYC. Of the following, which do you feel are the top three most important skills for freelancers to have in order to be successful? Please select three from this list.
Q21_13. On which topics would you like additional education or training to improve your skills and make you more competitive? Please select all that apply.
Base: NYC Freelancers = 1728 , M&E Freelancers = 432
* Business management topics include: networking skills, freelance business skills, entrepreneurship, marketing, how to find work, how to understand rights/protect work, and negotiation and
contracts
Skills Most Necessary for Successful Freelancers
[% Selected As One of Top 3 Skills]
82%
are looking for
MORE training on
business and finance
management topics*
29%
29%
36%
37%
38%
39%
43%
48%
Sales / pitching to prospects
Using contracts to protect work
Negotiating with clients
Identifying new revenue opportunities
Project management / productivity
Financial management and budgeting
Networking with prospects
Marketing their work or skills
FREELANCERS ALSO WANT MORE TRAINING ON MARKETING,
NETWORKING, AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, WHICH THEY VIEW AS
NECESSARY FOR FREELANCER SUCCESS
41

EDELMAN INTELLIGENCE / © 2019EDELMAN INTELLIGENCE / © 2019
Q59: Where do you typically go to find freelance work?
Q21_3_NYC. Of the following, which do you feel are the top three most important skills for freelancers to have in order to be successful? Please select three from this list.
Q21_14. To what extent would you agree with the following statements?
73%
Use friends/family,
previous clients, or
professional
contacts to find
work
Networking & marketing their
skills is crucial for Media &
Entertainment Freelancers:
81%
say building a network is critical to
earning more income
(vs. 76% of FLs)
80%
find work by networking through friends,
clients, or professional contacts
(vs. 73% FLs)
51%
say marketing their work/skills is most
necessary to succeed as a freelancer
(vs. 48% FLs)
42%
42%
41%
40%
26%
25%
22%
20%
18%
18%
15%
12%
2%
Friends/family
Previous Client
Professional Contacts
Social Media
Online ads/classifieds
General freelance websites
Online job boards
Previous employer
Specialized freelance websites
Employment agency / staffing firm
Sharing economy websites or apps
Local newspaper
Other
Where do you typically find freelance work?
BUILDING A PROFESSIONAL NETWORK IS KEY TO FINDING WORK,
PARTICULARLY FOR FREELANCERS IN MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT
42

Q21_10. Does cost get in the way of getting the skill-related education or training you want or need? [YES/NO]
Base: NYC Freelancers = 1728, Non-freelancers = 3272, M&E Freelancers = 432
Q21_68: Where have you received skill-related education or training?
Base: NYC Freelancers who have taken training = 1573, Non-Freelancers who have taken training = 2793, 18-21 year old freelancers who have taken training = 140
Q21_11a. Who paid for the most recent skill-related education or training you had?
Base: NYC Freelancers who have taken training = 1573, Non-Freelancers who have taken training = 2793, 18-21 year old freelancers who have taken training = 140
% Say Cost Gets in the Way of Training2 out of 3 freelancers
utilize sources that they
find by themselves
(66% of FLs vs. 47% Non-FLs)
They seek it out… and pay for it… …but the majority are hindered
by costs to pursue more training
2X more likely
than non-FLs to pay for
training themselves
(36% of FLs vs.
16% Non-FLs)
57%
40%
+17pts vs. non-
freelancers
Especially M&E freelancers
(60%)
Especially M&E freelancers
(77%)
AND, FREELANCERS NEED MORE AFFORDABLE EDUCATIONAL
OPPORTUNITIES, AS COST IS A SIGNIFICANT BARRIER TO PURSUING
TRAINING
43

Q21_14: To what extent would you agree with the following statements?
Q110: To what extent would you say each of the following resources are valuable in supporting your work?
Base: NYC Freelancers = 1728, Full-time Freelancers = 495
&
Particularly among full-time
freelancers
(69%)
Slightly more among full-time
freelancers
(71%)
61%
Would like better access
to affordable
co-working/workspace
options in their
neighborhood
68%
Say co-working
spaces are
valuable in supporting
their work
THEY WOULD ALSO LIKE BETTER ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE CO-WORKING
OPTIONS IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD
44

FUTURE OUTLOOK FOR
FREELANCERS

86%
of freelancers
see best days ahead
for the future of freelancing
vs. 14% see best days behind
Q57: How do you see the future of freelancing in general?
REGARDLESS OF THE VARIOUS CHALLENGES, FREELANCERS ARE
OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE FUTURE…
46

Q44: In the past year, have you seen the demand for your freelance services:
Base: NYC Freelancers = 1728, Full-time freelancers = 495, M&E Freelancers = 432, Freelance daily = 620
55%
Expect their income to
increase in the coming year
45%
Say demand for their freelance
services have increased in the
past year
50%
FT freelancers
48%
M&E freelancers
Groups most
likely report:
63%
FT freelancers
60%
Who freelance daily
DEMAND FOR FREELANCE WORK IS GROWING - 2 OUT OF 5 HAVE
EXPERIENCED A HIGHER DEMAND IN THE PAST YEAR, AND MORE THAN
HALF EXPECT THEIR INCOME TO INCREASE IN THE NEXT YEAR
47

AND, MOST TRADITIONAL EMPLOYEES WOULD BE OPEN TO
FREELANCING OUTSIDE OF THEIR PRIMARY JOB
Q21: Would you be willing to do additional work outside of your primary job(s) if it was available and enabled you to make more money? [Yes/No]
Non-Freelancers = 3272
Q40: How likely are you to quit your primary job in the next two years in order to work entirely independently?
Freelancers with a primary job = 378
Base: NYC Freelancers = 1728, Full time freelancers = 495
81%
of non-freelancers
would be willing to
do freelance work
outside of their
primary job
35%
of freelancers with a
primary job
are likely to quit their
primary job in the next two
years in order to work
entirely independently
&
In fact, 54% of freelancers with a primary job feel
it is more secure to have income from multiple
sources than a single employer
(50% freelancers overall, 59% FT freelancers)
48

57%
of freelancers are
politically active
...especially full-time freelancers (64%) and
Gen Z and Millennials (61%)
+21ppts
vs. Non-freelancers
(36%)
ASIDE FROM BEING A
GROWING
WORKFORCE,
FREELANCERS ARE A
POLITICALLY ACTIVE
ONE
Q70_3: How politically active are you? (e.g., volunteering for a candidate/political organization, attending rallies, engaging in politically-related social media activity, etc.)?
Base: NYC Freelancers = 1728, Non-Freelancers = 3272 49

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