The independent workforce is no longer a niche, but a major, fast-growing, and resilient part of the U.S. labor market. The 15th annual MBO Partners’ “State of Independence” report provides a deep dive into the trends, motivations, and successes of this workforce in 2025.
A Look at the Numbers
- The total number of independents in the U.S. saw a slight increase, from 72.7 million in 2024 to 72.9 million in 2025.
- The number of full-time independent workers remained stable at 27.6 million.
- The number of occasional independents, those who earn money periodically but at least once a month, grew to 37.4 million.
- Part-time independents decreased for the third year in a row, down to 7.9 million from 11.1 million in 2022.
Generational Shifts
- Demographic shifts are evident in the independent workforce.
- Gen Z’s presence has grown significantly, making up 28% of the independent workforce in 2025, a rise from 21% in 2024. In 2023, Gen Z and Baby Boomers were both at 19%, but two years later, Gen Z’s share is 2.5 times larger than the Boomers’.
- Baby Boomers now only constitute 11% of the independent workforce, down from 19% in 2023.
- Millennials held steady at about 34% of the independent workforce, and Gen X at 27%.
The “Return on Independence”
The report highlights that independent workers are seeing measurable returns on their investment in this career path, going beyond just income
- Emotional and Physical Well-being:
- Independent workers are happier and healthier.
- 86% of full-time independents say they are happier working on their own.
- 78% say working independently is better for their health.
- Many report a greater sense of security, with 67% feeling more secure working independently, a figure that has more than doubled since 2011.
- 73% of independents are optimistic about their career futures.
- Financial Success:
- A record 5.6 million independent workers earned over $100,000 annually in 2025, nearly double the number from 2020.
- This is well above the typical U.S. worker salary of approximately $66,000.
- 59% of independents say they earn more money working on their own.
- Autonomy and Purpose:
- Independent work offers autonomy, purpose, and flexibility.
- 63% of independents say their career path was a complete choice.
- 72% of independents are very satisfied with their work.
- The top drivers for independents include being happy (60%), helping others (60%), and having a sense of purpose (58%)
Technology as a Catalyst
- Technology is transforming how independents find and secure work.
- 42% of independents use online tools as their primary way of finding work, up from 14% in 2015.
- The use of online talent marketplaces has surged, with 49% of service-providing independents using them in 2025, compared to just 3% in 2012.
- In 2025, 74% of independents reported using generative AI, outpacing the 69% of traditional workers who used it. Independents use AI for research (41%), generating new ideas (37%), and writing/creative tasks (35%). On average, independents say generative AI saves them nine hours per week.
“Independents are not a fringe trend, they are a strategic resource,” said Teresa Creech, President of MBO Partners. “As traditional employment models strain under rising labor costs and shifting worker expectations, independent professionals offer companies a cost-effective, on-demand workforce that’s ready to deliver. Organizations that can engage this talent confidently and at scale gain a real competitive edge.”
The study arrives just months after Beeline’s acquisition of MBO Partners, combining two industry leaders to create the only end-to-end platform capable of managing every type of extended workforce—contingent, contractor, and independent talent—within a single, compliant ecosystem, and supported by MBO’s proven expertise in AOR, EOR, IC classification, and talent engagement.
“This study shows what enterprise leaders are already seeing: the independent workforce is here to stay and growing stronger,” said Ursula Williams, President of Staffing Industry Analysts. “Year after year, the data in this study has tracked the steady rise of independent work with remarkable consistency. The 2025 findings confirm what we’ve long seen in the industry: independents are a significant, skilled segment of the U.S. workforce.”
This annual study – now in its 15th year – has become one of the most widely cited sources on the rise of independent work in the U.S. The 2025 numbers confirm these workers have moved from the fringe to the mainstream and touch on what this means for companies: recruiting, onboarding, retention, and building flexibility into workforce strategy.
Download the full 2025 State of Independence report here.