The 2018 MBO Partners State of Independence in America paints a nuanced picture of the 42 million Americans who work independently as independent professionals, contractors, consultants, freelancers, side giggers and more. In this eight year of the report, the longest-running comprehensive look at the independent workforce, American independents emerge as strong, mature, and satisfied. Even amidst record low unemployment and the strongest jobs market in decades, independent work remains a viable and desirable career path. "People from all industries choose to become independent professionals,” says Gene Zaino, CEO of MBO Partners. “The key word here is 'choose.'" With each passing year, independent workers grow in both popularity and in size. “Independent work and traditional jobs are not engaged in a zero-sum fight, but rather, growing in unison," says Zaino. Independent work is or has been a part of nearly 47% of American’s careers, a number that is poised to swell to 52% in the next five years. In the 2018 study, four key trends emerged, each of which mirrors trends in the overall economy. Traditional jobs aren’t going away. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the US economy has added payroll jobs for 93 straight months, the unemployment rate is 4 percent, and there are 6.7 million open jobs. Full-time independence continues to be a viable and attractive option for many professionals, especially for those with in-demand skills. Companies are growing more comfortable working with independents, utilizing their skills in strategic positions, and paying them more. As a result, the number of High-Earning Independents, those earning more than $100,000, continues to rise—to 3.3 million. Satisfaction among Full-Time independents remains high as well. The need for-and interest in-part-time independent work continues to grow. Economic pressures and the continued growth of platforms and technology are contributors to this uptick in interest and size. The new norm is now more likely to be a mix of traditional and independent experience throughout one's lifespan. An individual's career path may include working at a payroll job, working as a Full-Time Independent, and having a side gig while employed at a payroll job. It’s not necessarily an either-or choice. Independents remain a powerful economic force, contributing more than $1.3 trillion annually to the economy, more than 6.7% of U.S. GDP. The scale is growing globally as well; one in five serve customers outside of the United States as well as domestically. This year's study underscores that independence will remain a viable and desired option for workers in the years to come. For more information, visit mbopartners.com/state-of-independence

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The State of Independence in
America: The New Normal
2018 Report

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About the Study
The 2018 MBO Partners State of Independence in America is the 8th consecutive
year this study has been conducted. Since 2011, independent workers have
completed over 21,000 in-depth surveys and over 1,400 independent workers have
been interviewed in-person as part of this study series.
For the 2018 study, Emergent Research and Rockbridge Associates conducted an
online survey in March of 2018. This survey had responses from 3,584 residents of
the U.S. (aged 21 and older); the results were used to size the independent
workforce and profile motivations among independent and traditional workers
(margin of error: +/-1.7 percent). The data was weighted to reflect the demographics
of the U.S. The 2018 results are generally statistically consistent with the survey
results from the prior 7 years.

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The Way We Work is Changing, as is the Role of Independent
Work
• Traditional jobs aren’t going away.
– According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the US economy has added payroll jobs for 92 straight months, the unemployment rate is
3.8 percent, and there are 6.7 million open jobs.
• Full-time independence continues to be a viable and attractive option for many professionals, especially for those
with in-demand skills.
– Companies are growing more comfortable working with independents, utilizing their skills in strategic positions, and paying them more.
– As a result, the number of High-Earning Independents, those earning more than $100,000, continues to rise—to 3.3 million.
• The need for—and interest in—part-time independent work continues to grow, given enduring economic pressures and
the continued growth of platforms and technology.
• The new norm is now more likely to be a mix of traditional and independent experience throughout one’s lifespan.
– An individual’s career path may include working at a payroll job, working as a Full-Time Independent, and having a side gig while
employed at a payroll job. It’s not necessarily an either-or choice.

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Independent Workers in the United States
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
FT 15+
INDEPENDENT
WORKERS IN
U.S.
16 million 16.9 Million 17.7 Million 17.8 Million 17.8 Million 16.9 Million 16.2 Million 15.8 Million
PART-TIME
INDEPENDENT
12.1 Million 12.4 Million 12.4 Million 11.8 Million 11.1 Million
OCCASIONAL
INDEPENDENT
10.5 Million 12.9 Million 14.9 Million
TOTAL 39.8 Million 40.9 Million 41.8 Million

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High-Earners on the Rise: Those Independents Earning $100,000 Grow Year over
Year
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
2011 2012 2103 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Number of Independents Reporting Annual Earnings of $100k +
(in millions)
3.2
1.95
3.05
Millions
2.9
2.7
2.5
2.2
3.3

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The Percentage of Independents Reporting Earning
$100k+ Continues to Increase
0
5
10
15
20
25
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Percentage of 15 Hour + Independent Workers Reporting Earning $100k +
12.5% 13.1%
14.3% 15%
16%
17.9%
19.8%
20.9%

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The Need for Supplemental Income Abounds, Independents More Likely To
Diversify With Multiple Income Streams
1 in 5 (22%) With a Traditional Job Report Having Other Economic Activities, so do almost 1 in 2 (47%) of Full-Time Independents
ACTIVITIES IN ADDITION TO PRIMARY JOB/SOURCE OF INCOME
TRADITIONAL
JOB
FT INDEPENDENT
Sells crafts in physical space 3% 12%
Airbnb or other home sharing 2% 2%
Sell goods on Ebay, Amazon or similar 14% 18%
Talent marketplaces 1% 3%
Sell goods/services on Craigslist or similar 8% 10%
A business I own 1% 21%
Other 1% 1%
None 78% 53%
Copyright 2017

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Demographics Stable; Matures Have Mostly Left the Workforce
Boomers &
Matures
35%
2017 2018
Millennials
38%
Gen X
27%
Copyright 2017
Boomers &
Matures
35%
Millennials
37%
Gen X
28%

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Independent by Choice More Than Ever Before
63%
65%
59%
58%
53%
56%
57%
55%
8%
9%
10%
9%
13%
14%
13%
15%
26%
26%
30%
32%
34%
30%
30%
30%
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
My choice completely A result of other factors beyond my control A combination of both
Copyright 2017

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Word of Mouth Still Top Method for Securing Work But Online Methods
Becoming More Common
TOP METHODS OF FINDING ASSIGNMENTS TOP WAY TOP 3 WAYS
Word of mouth 44% 67%
Social Media 12% 29%
Online Commerce Marketplaces (eBay, Etsy, Airbnb) 10% 12%
Agency/Broker 8% 14%
Former Employer 8% 20%
Online Job Platforms (Upwork, etc.) 4% 8%
Other 16% 29%

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About 1 in 5 Independents Have Customers Outside the U.S.
Platforms, Marketplaces and Outsourcing Improving Global Reach of Independent Workers
0%
2%
4%
6%
8%
10%
12%
14%
16%
18%
20%
2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013
Provide Goods/ Services to Customers Outside the US
19%
17%
13%
12%
13% 13%

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Those with Traditional Jobs See the World Very Differently Than
Independent Workers
ACTIVITIES IN ADDITION TO PRIMARY JOB/SOURCE OF INCOME
TRADITIONAL
JOB
INDEPENDENT
Always wanted to be own boss 49% 72%
Don’t like answering to boss 40% 64%
Flexibility more important than making the most money 50% 63%
Doing something I like more important than making the most money 59% 75%
Traditional jobs are more secure than independent work 70% 58%
I would rather have a permanent job than work on my own 61% 21%

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Independents Less Worried About Automation Taking Their Jobs Than
Traditional Employees Are But Neither Group Too Worried
Q. ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT AUTOMATION TAKING YOUR JOB
AWAY?
TRADITIONAL
JOB
INDEPENDENT
All of the work I do 3% 5%
Most of the work I do 10% 12%
Some of the work I do 32% 40%
None of the work I do 55% 44%

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But Many Not Doing It on a Regular Basis
Q. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU PARTICPATED IN SKILL—
RELATED DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING?
TRADITIONAL
JOB
INDEPENDENT
Past Month 17% 27%
More than one month to 6 months ago 21% 22%
7 to 12 months ago 12% 13%
More than a year ago 35% 26%
Never 14% 12%

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About MBO Partners
MBO Partners offers the industry’s only complete business operating system
for independent workers, offering technology solutions that make it easy for
self-employed professionals and their clients to do business. By re-envisioning
the entire contractor recruitment and engagement lifecycle, MBO improves
how talented independents operate and succeed while helping enterprises
reduce risk and get the best return on their contractor investments.
To learn more, visit www.mbopartners.com.

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Questions?
Contact mrobbins@mbopartners.com