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Third of workers globally are ‘free agents,’ Kelly survey finds

September 03, 2015

Nearly one in three workers globally is a free agent, according to a survey released today by Kelly Services Inc. (NASD: KELYA). The Kelly Services 2015 Free Agent Survey identifies free agents as those who consult; perform temporary, freelance or independent contract work; or have their own business.

Globally, 31% of the working population identified as a free agents, compared with 69% considered to be traditional workers, according to the report. The percentage of free agents is fairly consistent across the regions: 31% in the US, 27% in Europe and 34% in APAC. Historically speaking, the US figure is down from four years ago, according to the report.

“In 2011, conditions in the US drove free agency to 44% as more workers were compelled to consider free agency based on economic necessity,” said Teresa Carroll, senior VP and general manager, Global Talent Solutions for Kelly Services. “As expected, the percentage of free agents in the US has leveled off since the recovery, though at a higher level than before the recession.”

“By and large, today's free agents are willingly and consciously choosing this workstyle because of the freedom, flexibility and entrepreneurial benefits the workstyle affords,” Carroll said.

Five types of free agents that exist today and the percentage of the global free agent population were listed; free agents may be represented in multiple categories:

  • Independent contractors (workers who perform independent work on a project-to-project basis): 64%
  • Freelance business owners (business owners with up to five employees who identify as both a freelancer and a business owner): 28%
  • Temporary workers (workers typically hired for a fixed duration, often through an agency): 24%
  • Moonlighters (workers who hold a primary, traditional job and also participate in free agency work on the side): 13%
  • Diversified workers (workers with multiple sources of income, derived from a mix of traditional and freelance work with the majority of their income derived from freelance work): 4%

In 2015, Kelly surveyed more than 5,200 workers across 13 countries in three regions, spanning all generations, genders, and a multitude of work arrangements to understand the percentage of the workforce currently engaging as free agents, the drivers and motivators of free agents, and views of traditional workers with respect to the free agent workstyle.