The number of independent workers is on the rise, up 11.6% to a record 72.1 million American this year from 64.6 million last year, according to the MBO Partners’ State of Independence in America 2023 report.

One of the faster-growing segments of independent workers was those earning $100,000 or more per year, which rose 53% between 2021 and 2023 to a total of 4.6 million. The increase in the number of highly paid independents is driven by greater demand for such workers and the desire for greater work/life flexibility among the workers themselves, according to the report.

MBO Partners defines independent workers as consultants, freelancers, contractors, solopreneurs, microbusiness owners, temporary (workers employed through staffing firms) and on-call workers.

Among independent workers of all earnings levels, growth came from those working independently full time as well as those doing so on an occasional basis.

The number of full-time independents — those working independently for 15 or more hours per week — rose by 20% year over year in 2022 to 21.6 million, according to MBO Partners; In addition, the number of occasional independents — those who earn money periodically as an independent at least monthly — rose 14.7% to 36.6 million.

However, the number of part-time independents — working fewer than 15 hours per week — fell to 9.5 million this year from 11.1 million last year.

In addition to numbers, MBO Partners’ report examined other aspects of independent work. One question about AI found that only 8% of independents see AI as a threat.

The study included survey responses from 6,488 US residents, including 1,132 independent workers.