38% of US workers earn money from gig work, study finds

A recent study found that 64 million Americans now work as freelancers, accounting for 38% of the U.S. workforce.

High-skill freelancers alone contributed an estimated $1.5 trillion to the U.S. economy in 2024, equivalent to around 5% of total GDP, representing an 18% increase from the previous year.

Interest in flexible work has also grown significantly, with Google searches for “gig work” increasing by 548% since 2019, reflecting growing consumer demand for alternative ways to earn money.

By analyzing the latest industry and government data, the study highlights how the gig economy has become an increasingly important source of income for millions of Americans. See the biggest gig economy statistics.