Freelancing in America: 2015

© Copyright 2015 Daniel J Edelman Inc. Intelligent Engagement
Freelancing in America: 2015
Results Deck
October 1, 2015

© Copyright 2015 Daniel J Edelman Inc. Intelligent Engagement 2
•  An online survey of 7,107 U.S. adults who have done paid work in the past 12 months
•  Data collected July 30 - August 14, 2015 by independent research firm Edelman Berland
o  2014 data referenced in this presentation is from Edelman Berland’s July 19 - July 31,
2014 survey
•  Results are weighted to ensure demographic representation in line with the United States
Bureau of Labor Statistics 2015 Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey and
the American Community Survey
•  Overall margin of error of ±1.16% at the 95% level of confidence
Research methodology

Audiences
NON-FREELANCERS
Definition:
-  Individuals who earned income
through work but have not engaged
in supplemental, temporary, project-
or contract-based work, within the
past 12 months.
Sample n = 4,678
FREELANCERS
Definition:
-  Individuals who have engaged in
supplemental, temporary, project-
or contract-based work, within the
past 12 months.
Sample n = 2,429
U.S. WORKERS OVERALL
Definition:
-  U.S. adults 18+ who have earned
income from work within the past 12
months, including both freelancers
and non-freelancers.
Sample n = 7,107

Freelancers Union and Upwork commissioned Edelman Berland, an independent research firm, to conduct
a study of the freelance workforce within the U.S. with the following objectives:
1.  Quantify the number of people freelancing in the U.S. for the second year in a row
2.  Assess why people are freelancing
3.  Consider the role of freelancers in the 2016 election
4.  Gauge the outlook for freelancing, especially among millennials as they become the majority of
our workforce
This results deck is organized in sections to detail results on each of these objectives.
Study objectives

1. Quantify the number of people freelancing in the U.S. for the second year in a row
•  The percent of the U.S. workforce freelancing held steady at 34%. Based on the Bureau of Labor
Statistics’ estimate of the civilian labor force at 157 million, that equates to an estimated 53.7
million people -- 700,000 more people who have done freelance work than last year.

2. Assess why people are freelancing
•  More people are freelancing by choice -- 60% said they started more by choice (vs necessity), up
7 percentage points from last year – primarily driven by flexibility.
•  The majority (60%) of freelancers who left traditional employment now earn more – 78%
indicated they earned more within a year or less.
•  Technology is making it easier to find freelance work (73% of freelancers agree, compared to
69% in 2014). More than half (51%) of freelancers had obtained a project online, up from 42%
last year.
•  50% of freelancers say they would not quit freelancing and take a traditional job with an
employer -- no matter how much it paid.

Key findings (by objective)

3. Consider the role of freelancers in the 2016 elections
•  Approaching 9 in 10 freelancers (86%) say they’re likely to vote in the 2016 U.S. general election.
•  Among freelancers, 63% say we need more discussion of how to empower the freelance segment of
the workforce.
•  Almost the same number of freelancers (62%) say they would be more likely to vote for a candidate
if they supported their interests as a freelancer.
4. Gauge the outlook for freelancing
•  83% of freelancers believe the best days are ahead for freelancing, up from 77% last year.
•  Among all freelancers, more than 3 in 4 (78%) would recommend freelancing to their friends and
family – with millennials even more favorable at 84%. Millennials are also the second most likely
generation to start freelancing by choice, topped only by baby boomers.
•  3 in 4 non-freelancers said they are open to doing additional work outside their primary jobs to earn
more money, if it was available.

Key findings (by objective)

Quantifying the Freelance
Workforce

© Copyright 2015 Daniel J Edelman Inc. 8
•  Our survey of over 7,000 U.S. workforce members rigorously screened respondents to determine the
percent who earned freelance income in the past year. Results showed that 34% of the U.S. workforce
is doing freelance activity.
•  Based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics July 2015 estimate of the civilian labor force at 157 million, we
estimate that the U.S. workforce currently includes 53.7 million people doing freelance work.
•  This is an increase of 700,000 freelancers since our 2014 survey due to increase in the size of
the labor force.
The percent of the U.S. workforce freelancing held steady
at 34%. Almost 54M Americans are now freelancing
"THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION - JULY 2015." Bureau of Labor Statistics - U.S. Department of Labor, 7 Aug.
2015, http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/empsit.pdf.

Starting with the general U.S. workforce, each respondent ran through a series of questions that carefully qualified
their employment status and income in order to detect freelancing that might otherwise go unrecorded. The following
definitions and examples explain 5 segments of freelancers captured:
1.  Independent Contractors (36% of the independent workforce / 19.3 million professionals) – These “traditional” freelancers don't
have an employer and instead do freelance, temporary, or supplemental work on a project-to-project basis.
2.  Moonlighters (25% / 13.2 million) – 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.
3.  Diversified Workers (26% / 14.1 million) – People with multiple sources of income from a mix of traditional employers and
freelance work. For example, someone who works the front desk at a dentist’s office 20 hours a week and fills out the rest of
his income driving for Uber and doing freelance writing.
4.  Temporary Workers (9% / 4.6 million) – 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 and working on a three-month
assignment.
5.  Freelance Business Owners (5% / 2.5 million) – 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.
In order to qualify, freelancers had to have earned freelance income within the past 12 months.
How did we quantify freelancers?
Note: Due to rounding, percentages add up to more than 100%

The freelance workforce: 5 freelancer segments
36%
26%
25%
9%
5%
2.5M
-2% from 2014
consistent
with 2014
Moonlighters
Diversified
Workers
Temporary
Workers
Freelance Business
Owners
Independent
Contractors
S102New: Behind the scenes-Freelancer Specific Classification-Tracking n = 2,429
4.6M
14.1M
19.3M
13.2M
From 2014 to 2015, the
number of Diversified Workers
has increased from 9.3M (18%
of the freelance workforce) to
14.1M professionals – largely
due to increased participation
in the sharing economy
+8% from 2014
-4% from 2014
-1% from 2014
Note: Due to rounding, percentages add up to more than 100%
*Sharing economy sites are sites such as Uber, Etsy, or others that allow people
to share their goods or time with other people.

Why People are Freelancing: Going
Solo vs. Traditional Employment

The majority of freelancers are starting by choice
Choice
60%
Necessity
40%
Which is closer to the reason you originally started
freelancing?
Q48. Which is closer to the reason you originally started freelancing? n = 2,429
Q53. What do you think is different about the freelance job market today compared to 3 years ago? More people are
choosing to work independently [Strongly + Somewhat Agree] n = 2,429
67%of freelancers agree that more
people are choosing to work
independently today
compared to 3 years ago
Up from 53%
in 2014

61%
54%
58%
65%
39%
46%
42%
35%
18-34 35-44 45-54 55+
Reason for Freelancing - by Age
[Freelancers]
Choice Necessity
The youngest and oldest generations are most likely
to start freelancing by choice
Q48. Which is closer to the reason you originally started freelancing? n = 2,429

Flexibility and freedom are key drivers for freelancing
Q35b. Please indicate the degree to which each of the following is a reason why you
freelance? (Top 2 Box) n = 2,429
75% 75%
73%
70% 69%
67% 67%
64%
68%
63%
59%
57%
59%
55%
53%
75%
To have flexibility in my
schedule (i.e. what days
or times I work)
To be my own boss To work from the
location of my choosing
To be able to pursue
work I am passionate
about or find
meaningful
To have a schedule that
enables me to pursue
my personal passions
To be able to spend
more time with friends,
family, and my personal
life
To be in control of my
own financial future
To earn extra money
Top Reasons for Freelancing
Full-time freelancers Part-time freelancers

Why do Americans freelance? In their own words…
Q35a: Other than to earn money, why do you freelance? [Open End] n = 2,429
“Allows me to pick and chose the projects that interest me, and the people I work with.”
“Because it's a job on my terms, I can do it at all times of the day, on weekends. Some I can do from my mobile phone as
well, so I am not bound by a single location.”
“I find it more rewarding. I work when I want, I commute only if I choose to, and my earnings are dependent on how much I
choose to work.”
Other than money, why do you freelance? (Open-ended)
“Because I want to...also, it allows for more creativity and personal interaction with clients/customers and no wasted time
with important meetings”
“Pursue the passions I love and prefer other than the standard norm of punching a clock.”
“To challenge myself, to broaden my experiences, to make contacts in my field, to increase future job opportunities.”
“To hopefully transition into full time freelance work / self-employment.”
1.  Freedom
2.  Pursue passion
3.  Build skills
4.  Flexibility
5.  Work Opportunities
“It is an opportunity to stay at home with my child while I have the flexibility to work when I need to.”
“It gives a great flexibility to my schedule. I can work as little or as much as I would like to.”
“It is a good way to utilize my skills to earn more money, with flexible hours.”
“I work project to project because that is how it is in the entertainment industry.”
“I sell real estate and this is how the industry is structured.”
“There aren't many full time jobs available doing what I do.”

Flexibility is a bigger driver for freelancers overall
than the type of work
Q35c. Which is a bigger reason why you freelance? n = 2,429
65%
35%
The flexibility it provides
(schedule flexibility, location
flexibility, time with family, etc.)
The work opportunities it provides
(type of projects, interesting work,
ability to work with multiple
clients, etc.)
Which is a bigger reason why you freelance?
Flexibility is especially appealing to
women (73%), caregivers (67%),
and part-time freelancers (71%)

A third of freelancers say they have been able to
move thanks to the flexibility their career provides
Q50a. Please indicate your agreement with the following statements about freelancing. n = 2,429
67%of freelancers agree that freelancing provides
the opportunity to work from anywhere
33%Of freelancers agree that in the past, they
have been able to move to a different
location because of the freedom freelancing
gave them

The majority of freelancers who left traditional employment
earn more now, with 3 in 4 earning more within the 1st year
Q29b. As a freelancer now, do you earn more or less than when you had an employer? (freelancers who left a traditional job) n = 563
Q29c. After leaving your job with an employer, how long did it take you to earn more as a freelancer than you did with an employer?
(freelancers earned more after leaving traditional job) n = 339
34%
23%
21%
10%
7%
5%
Immediately Less than 6
months
6 months –
1 year
1- 2 years 3- 5 years 6 years or
more
After leaving your job with an employer, how long did it take
you to earn more as a freelancer than you did with an
employer?
78%
Less
31%
Same
9%
More
60%
As a freelancer now, do you earn more or less
than when you had an employer?

Half of freelancers say they wouldn’t stop freelancing, no
matter how much money they’re offered
Q29a: In the past, did you quit or leave a job with an employer in order to freelance? n=2,429
Q50e. How much more would a traditional job with an employer need to pay in order for you to definitely take that
traditional job and stop freelancing? n = 2,429
25%
2%
4%
8%
7%
4%
50%
How much more would a traditional job with an employer need to pay in order for you
to definitely take that traditional job and stop freelancing?
$50,000-
$99,999
$100K+
There is no amount
of money where I
would definitely take
a traditional job.
>$5,000
$5,000-
$9,999
$10,000-
$19,999
$20,000-
$49,000
23%of freelancers
have quit a job with an
employer in order to freelance
<$5,000

Freelancers find work many ways
Moonlighters
Diversified
Workers
Independent
Contractors
Q59: Where do you typically go to find freelance work? Please select all that apply. n = 624
11%
12%
15%
16%
17%
20%
25%
25%
29%
29%
35%
36%
Sharing economy websites or apps
Local newspaper
Employment agency / staffing firm
Specialized freelance websites
Previous employer (full-time)
Previous employer (freelance)
Online ads/classifieds
Online freelance marketplaces
Online job boards
Social media
Professional contacts
Friends and family
Where do you typically go to find freelance work?
[Full-time freelancers]
Note: “Full-time freelancers” includes individuals who self-identify as full-time
freelancers.

Q60. Have you ever obtained a freelance project online? n = 2,429
Q61. How long on average does it take you to find freelance projects that you look for online? (i.e. between looking for an opportunity and starting work of it) n = 1,232
Q59. Have you ever done a freelance project online – meaning work that you found and performed via the Internet? (2014) n = 1,720
An increasing number of freelancers are obtaining
work online
21%
28%
24%
16%
5% 6%
Less than 24
hours
1-3 days 4-6 days 1-2 weeks 3-4 weeks More than a
month
How long on average does it take you to find freelance
projects that you look for online?
No
49%
Yes
51%
Have you ever obtained a freelance project
online?
In 2014, 42% of
freelancers had
done a freelance
project online
49% find projects
in less than 3
days

83%
69%
10%
20%
6%
8%
1% 3%
What percentage of your income comes from sharing economy platforms?
[Freelancers]
91-100%
51-90%
10-50%
Less than 10%
The number of freelancers who earn 10% or more of
their income through the sharing economy has nearly
doubled in the past year
2014 2015
Q69. What percentage of your income comes from sharing economy platforms? (i.e. Uber, Etsy, Airbnb, etc.)
17%
31%
16.6Mfreelancers earn 10% or more
of their income through the
sharing economy
compared to 9M in 2014

Technology is making it easier to find freelance work
Q53_5. What do you think is different about the freelance job market today compared to 3 years ago? Please indicate your level of
agreement with the following statements: Technology has made it easier to find freelance work. n = 2,429
73%Agree that technology has made it
easier to find freelance work
compared to 69% in 2014

Freelancers and the 2016 Election

Freelancers are an important political constituency:
The vast majority are likely to vote in 2016
Q71_2: In November of 2016, there will be a general election for U.S. President, Congress, and other political offices. While it is a long way off, how
likely are you to vote in this election? n = 2,429
Q72_2: If the election for US Congress were held today, for which party’s candidate would you prefer to vote? n = 2,429
39%
31% 30%
If the election for US Congress were held today, for which party’s candidate
would you prefer to vote?
Democrat Republican Don't Know
86% of freelancers
say they are likely to vote in
the 2016 general election

Candidates who support freelancer interests are
more likely to win freelancer votes
Q74: If a candidate for political office supported your interests as a freelancer, how would that impact your vote? n = 2,429
62%
29%
9%
How would a candidate for political office supporting your interests as a
freelancer impact your likelihood to vote for that candidate?
More Likely It would make no difference Less Likely
Millennials (67%) are more likely
to vote for a candidate who
supports freelancers interests
than non-millennials (58%)

Generally, freelancers don’t see political leaders as
focused on their interests and want more discussion
Q73. For each of the following groups or individuals, to the best of your knowledge, please indicate whether you think they support your interests as a
freelancer, work against your interests as a freelancer, or neither support nor work against your interest as a freelancer. n=2,429
Q77. Which is closer to your view of the discussion in our country around freelancers? n = 2,429
63%
37%
Which is closer to your view around the discussion
in our country around freelancers?
[Freelancers]
We need
MORE OPEN
DISCUSSION
of how to
empower the
freelance segment of
our workforce
We already talk
about freelancers
enough
32% 30% 29%
27% 28%
22%
26%
22%
25%
15%
20% 24%
Congress Local government officials President Barack Obama
Support for Freelancer Interests
[Freelancers]
Supports my
interests as a
freelancer
Works against my
interests as a
freelancer
Neither supports
nor works against
my interests
Don’t know

Freelancing is seen as a key to improving our
economy
Q78. Which is closer to your view of the impact freelancers have on our economy? n = 2,429
82%of freelancers believe that increased
opportunities for freelancers are a
positive step for our economy

The Outlook for Freelancing

Freelancers are optimistic: The overwhelming
majority think freelancing’s best days are yet to come
Q57. How do you see the future of freelancing in general? (2015) n = 2,429
Q57. How do you see the future of the freelancing job market? (2014) n = 1,720
83% of freelancers
believe the best days are ahead
for freelancing
compared to 77% in 2014

More than one-third of freelancers report demand for
their services increased in the past year
Q44. In the past year, have you seen the demand for your freelance services: Increase, Decrease, Stay the same. n = 2,429
34%
51%
15%
In the past year, have you seen the demand for your freelance services change?
Increased Demand No Change Decreased Demand
+2% from 2014

Nearly half of all freelancers expect their income
from freelancing to increase in the coming year
Q42. In the coming year, do you expect your income from freelancing to: n = 2,429
48%
41%
11%
Increase Stay the same Decrease
In the coming year, how do you expect your income from freelancing to change?
In particular, full-time
freelancers (58%) expect
their income from
freelancing to increase in
the coming year

Q57. How do you see the future of freelancing in general? n = 2,429
Q41. How likely are you to recommend freelancing to your family or friends? n = 2,429
Best days are
behind
13%
How do you see the future of
freelancing in general?
Best
days are
behind
20%
Millennials are most optimistic about the future of
the freelance job market
Not Likely
16%
How likely are you to recommend freelancing
to your friends or family?
Not
Likely
26%
Millennials Millennials
Adults 35+ Adults 35+
81%
Best days
are ahead
87%
Best days
are ahead
80%
84% likely
74% likely
83% of all
freelancers see
best days ahead
78% of all
freelancers likely
to recommend it

Key freelancer concerns
Q75. Please indicate how concerning each of the following issues are to you as a freelancer: Very concerning, somewhat concerning, not very
concerning, not at all concerning; n = 2,429
10% 8% 9% 9% 11% 13%
14% 16% 16% 18%
20% 22%
32%
39% 38% 34%
39% 32%
44%
37% 37% 39%
29% 33%
Cost of health care Unpredictable income Saving for retirement High taxation rates Difficulty finding more
clients or projects
Non-payment or late
payment by clients
How concerning are each of the following issues to you as a freelancer?
Not at all concerning Not very concerning Somewhat concerning Very concerning
76% 76% 74% 73%
68% 65%

More than 1 in 3 moonlighters have considered quitting
their primary employment and going solo
Q11: Do you have an employer (i.e. a company that employs you)? n = 7,107
Q12: Do you have more than one employer, job, or contract project? n = 5,162
Q13: Do you do any work outside of your primary position to supplement your income or earn additional money? n=4,156
Q37. Have you ever considered quitting your primary job in order to work completely independently? (Freelancers who have a primary job) n = 599
Yes
35%
No
65%
Have you considered quitting your job in
order to work completely independently?
13.2 Million
Moonlighters
Workers with a primary employer
who have done work outside of
their main job to earn additional
money within the past year
If these Moonlighters
quit their jobs, that
would be
4.6MNew Independent
Contractors

Most non-freelancers are open to freelancing
Yes
76%
No
24%
Would you be willing to do additional work outside of your primary job if it was
available and enabled you to make more money?
[Non-Freelancers]
Q21. Would you be willing to do additional work outside your primary job(s) if it was available and enabled
you to make more money? N = 4,678
Millennials (83%) are more
willing to do additional work
outside of their primary job
than any other age group

Who Freelancers Are

Men tend to freelance more than women
Q1: What gender do you more closely identify with? n = 7,107
Q70: What state do you live in? [Recode into regions] n = 7,107
60%
40%
53%
47%
Male Female
What gender do you more closely identify with?
Freelancers U.S. Workers Overall
Note: “U.S. Workers Overall” includes all U.S. adults who have earned income from
work within the past years, including freelancers and non-freelancers

Freelancers tend to be young, with over half under
the age of 40 – but almost 20% are 55+
Q2: What is your current age? n = 7,107
16%
27%
10% 10%
9%
10%
7%
12%12%
22%
10% 11% 11% 12%
10%
13%
18-24 25-34 35-39 40-44 45-49 50-54 55-59 60+
What is your current age?

57%
69% 71% 71%
43%
31% 29% 29%
18-34 35-44 45-54 55+
Freelance Participation by Age
Non-Freelancers Freelancers
And more millennials freelance than any other age group
Q2. What is your current age? n = 7,107

Almost half of freelancers cite caregiving as a reason
they freelance
Q35b: Please indicate the degree to which each of the following is a reason why you freelance? n = 753
46%of freelancers say they
freelance to have a
schedule that allows them
to provide care for a family
member
“I homeschool my son so it helps me to stay close to home to help him with his needs.”
“This career allows me more time with my child, to do more creative work with clients, less of a
routine schedule.”
“On my own with two children, I can work around their schedule and cancel work on very short
notice if they are ill… it's a way to make money and still put my family first.”
“I am staying home to take care of my daughter, so it allows me to stay active in my career
until she is school age, when I may go back to work full-time.”

Freelancers come from a variety of educational
backgrounds
Q68: What is the highest level of school you have completed or the highest degree you
have received? n = 7,107
32%
18%
14%
22%
14%
33%
19%
13%
23%
12%
HS grad or less Some college but no degree Associate degree Bachelor's degree Post grad
What is the highest level of school you have completed?
Note: “U.S. Workers Overall” includes all U.S. adults who have earned income
from work within the past years, including freelancers and non-freelancers

Freelancers live all over the country, in cities,
suburbs, and rural areas
Q70. What state do you live in? n=7,107
Q71. What type of area do you currently live in? n=7,107
17%
22%
37%
23%
17%
23%
38%
22%
Northeast Midwest South West
What region do you live in?
35%
47%
19%
32%
48%
20%
Urban Suburban Rural
What type of area do you currently live in?

Freelancers are slightly more racially/ethnically
diverse than U.S. workers overall
Q3A. Which of the following best describes your ethnicity, racial background or
heritage? n=7,107
63%
16%
12%
5% 4%
67%
14%
10%
5%
3%
White Hispanic or Latino African or African descent Asian-American/ Asian All others
Which of the following best describes your ethnicity, racial background or heritage?
% non-white Freelancers: 36%
% non-white U.S. Workers Overall: 32%

Appendix

•  U.S. 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.
•  Full-Time Freelancers: Individuals that describe their current freelance work status as “full-time freelancer.”
•  Part-Time Freelancers: Individuals that describe their current freelance work status as “part-time freelancer.”
•  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.
•  Non-Freelancers Employed Full-time: Individuals that describe their current work status as “employed full-time” and
do not do any additional work outside of their primary job to supplement their income.
Glossary

Freelancers Union
Freelancers Union’s 272,000 members believe all workers should have the freedom to build meaningful, connected,
and independent lives – backed by a system of mutual and public support. More than one in three working Americans
is an independent worker. That's almost 54 million people. They are lawyers and nannies, graphic designers and
temps. Freelancers Union serves the needs of this growing independent sector.
–
Upwork
Upwork is the world’s largest freelance talent marketplace. More than 4 million businesses and 10 million
independent professionals tap into www.upwork.com to work together via the Internet. As our increasingly connected
and independent workforce goes online, talent—like software, shopping and communications before it—is shifting to
the cloud. This innovation is freeing professionals from set time and place work, while also making it faster and easier
for businesses to hire. Upwork is headquartered in Mountain View, California, with offices in San Francisco, California
and Oslo, Norway.
This study commissioned by:

Freelancing in America: 2015

Freelancing in America: 2015

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