Freelancers Union and Nation1099 surveys help freelancers advance.

In the early 90's, I was an IC in data communications networking in Colorado. I was not employed. I was unattached to any long-term contract. I was literally fulfilling one project/contract (gig) at a time using only my acquired knowledge and skills. Sometimes known as a one-man shop, I was engaging in this form of "work" as a means of earning a living. More recently labeled the "Gig Economy", this form of work adds over $1 trillion to our GDP from 50 million Americans working as independents and freelancers.

The first time I heard the term "gig" to describe a cohort of American workers working as non-employees was in a speech given by Sara Horowitz in 2005. Sara, a Brooklynite her whole life, was a former union organizer who founded, the Freelancers Union in 2003 when she recognized the vital role independent workers would play in our networked, interconnected world. Freelancers Union promotes the needs of the independent workforce through advocacy, education and serving the needs of the freelancers with health insurance and worker rights.

Today about a third of the entire workforce are independent workers according to the Freelancers Union data. Freelancers Union claims a membership of more than 350,000 nationwide with creative, cooperative, market-based solutions for unique social and work issues created by the Gig Economy work model.

More recently, Nation1099 completed a survey of freelancing professionals. The Career Freelancer Status Report summarizes the findings of a survey of active freelancers and independent consultants. The goal of Nation1099 was to understand where they get career and business information and what information or support they still need. A picture of the emerging “career freelance” professional who is satisfied with their career choice but struggling to get more clients and to take their business to the next level emerged.

Here are the highlights:

1. Most active freelancers are “career freelancers.”
2. Freelancers are flexible in how they refer to themselves.
3. Active freelancers have a lot of experience.
4. Freelancers feel fairly competent at managing their careers.
5. Career freelancers primarily rely on online sources for information.
6. The active freelancer’s biggest concern is business development.
7. Freelancers are dissatisfied with job boards.
8. Full-time freelancers appear to be earning incomes comparable to their peers in
traditional employment.
9. Many freelancers appear to reach a plateau effect in their income after five years.
10. Many freelancers are also employers or clients of other freelancers themselves.

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