Over the past year, both supply and demand for independent workers increased. MBO Partners’ latest State of Independence Study found that 72.1 million Americans reported working independently in 2023. A tight labor market and demand for workers with specialized skills led more organizations to rely on independent talent to fill skill gaps. Together, this increased…

MBO Partners’ 2023 State of Independence report found that there have never been more people working independently—more than 72 million Americans reported working as part-time, occasional, or full-time independents. There is a growing demand for independent talent, who are well-positioned to provide companies with flexible, on-demand expertise. And as more people see independent work as…

In a labor market characterized by scarcity and dynamic shifts, the statistics speak volumes about the evolving nature of the workforce. As of October, there were 9.6 million open jobs, significantly outnumbering the 6.5 million job seekers (October BLS Report). This staggering gap emphasizes the ongoing challenge of talent acquisition, pushing organizations to explore innovative…

Outsourcing projects to independent contractors can be a great way to achieve goals. Today’s work environment is in flux. It can be hard to meet business expectations with a workforce of full-time employees alone. Independent contractors are skilled experts in many different fields. This group of workers can help provide the workforce flexibility and project-based…

The after action review, or AAR, was first created by the U.S. Army in the 1970s as an on-the-spot learning tool to make fast corrections and improvements to a group’s direction and activity. Seeing the potential of such a tool, the business world adopted the AAR and applied it to a range of applications. The…

As the independent workforce continues to grow, so do the issues of worker compliance and misclassification. It is important for enterprises to remain informed about the latest laws, regulations, and developments surrounding these topics. Each month, we’ll bring you the latest news stories from around the web. 1. New York Passes Freelancers Isn’t Free Act…

Organizations of all sizes are increasing their use of independent workers to maximize workforce agility and flexibility. The average company reports that contingent labor makes up 28% of their workforce and this proportion is expected to grow to 38% by the end of 2027. Independent work is becoming more popular and accessible, giving enterprises access…

Forty-eight percent of U.S. independent professionals are either Baby Boomers (19%) or Gen X (29%). It is likely that many of these, especially in the Boomer cohort, are pursuing encore careers as independent professionals. These workers can make valuable contributions to the companies they work with. What Is an Encore Career? An encore career is…

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, at the end of July 2023 there were 8.8 million open jobs but only 5.25 million job seekers. This gap, a skills shortage mainly in the technology space, and caution around adding headcount has more and more companies turning to independent talent to meet their workforce needs….

“There have never been more payroll jobs in the U.S. There have also never been more people working independently.” 2023 State of Independence Report Those two statements may seem paradoxical, but they are both true. The U.S. independent talent population has grown steadily year on year—from 2020 to 2023 alone it jumped by 89%. Even…

Direct sourcing is a way to connect directly with independent contractors and engage them for project-based work. Rather than using a third-party service like a staffing or consulting firm to find talent, companies can source talent internally using their own resources. This approach helps to save time, money, and resources while often resulting in sourcing…

Born between 1997 and 2012, Gen Z is the first digital-native generation. Computers, the internet, and smartphones are integral to their day-to-day lives, not the optional features of other generations. Their worldview, colored by a world in turmoil, has fostered a perspective on life and work that significantly differs from their elders. One in every…

We’ve talked about the importance of creating an optimized workforce to future-proof your enterprise. We’ve also talked about how to conduct a skills assessment to figure out skills (and associated roles) that are most important in your independent talent pool. And we’ve observed that competition for those skills can be stiff. Now, let’s talk about…

If your organization is not already using a marketplace to find independent professionals, you may be missing out on great talent. Talent marketplaces—online platforms that connect independent contractors with projects—are continuing to grow in popularity. In 2023, 40% of independent contractors said they used a talent marketplace to find work and 47% said they planned…