One of the most significant US workforce shifts to come out of the past year is the growth and popularity of freelancing. As more high-skilled individuals choose to freelance during the COVID-19 pandemic, big businesses are starting to pay attention.

Just how large is this shift? 12% of the U.S. workforce turned to freelancing for the first time this year with nearly 50% already seeing freelancing as a long-term career opportunity. As of September 2020, an estimated 59 million Americans performed freelance work this year, representing 36% of the U.S. workforce, an increase of 2 million freelancers since 2019.