Freelancing Is No Longer a Side Hustle and It's How America Is Choosing to Work

[etfs]

A new report from iHire surveying 2,250 workers across 57 industries reveals just how dramatically the American workforce has shifted. Nearly 73 million Americans now engage in independent work, up from 42 million before the pandemic in 2019, and 61% of respondents consider freelance work appealing. The trend isn't slowing either, with 56% of active freelancers expecting to increase their project-based work in 2026. What was once seen as a fallback option or a niche career path has firmly entered the mainstream, reshaping how professionals across nearly every industry think about employment.

Perhaps the most telling detail is what's actually driving the shift. Contrary to popular assumption, higher pay is not the top motivator. Flexibility is, cited by 73% of respondents, followed by remote work options and better work-life balance. That said, financial pressure is playing a real role too, with 63.5% of respondents saying rising living costs pushed them toward freelance work and over half stating that freelance income is now essential to their financial stability. Notably, 46% of freelancers still hold full-time jobs, using project-based work as a supplemental income stream, suggesting freelancing isn't replacing traditional employment so much as layering on top of it.

[AIcash]

46% freelancing while employed, having it both ways