Freelance Statistics
Last updated: 2026-10-28 · 11 sourced statistics
How big is the US freelance workforce? It depends on the definition. The Census Bureau counted 30.4 million nonemployer businesses, firms with no paid employees, in 2023. Broader vendor surveys that include occasional and side work count far more: Upwork estimated 64 million Americans freelanced in 2023, and MBO Partners puts the number earning income independently at 74.9 million in 2026. This page sets the official count beside the vendor estimates, explains what each one measures, and shows who freelances and what work they do. For earnings and income volatility, see our freelance income statistics page.
Key takeaways
- 30.4 million US nonemployer businesses reported $1.8 trillion in receipts in 2023 (Census Bureau).
- Nonemployer businesses grew 2.7% a year on average from 2012 to 2023, vs 1.1% for employer businesses (Census Bureau).
- Women owned 42.3% of nonemployer businesses in 2023 (Census Bureau).
- Vendor surveys count 64 million Americans who freelanced in 2023 (Upwork) and 74.9 million who earn income independently (MBO Partners, 2026).
- 47% of freelancers provided knowledge services such as programming, marketing, IT and consulting in 2023 (Upwork).
At a glance.
Every figure on this page in one table, each linked to its named source. Scroll down for the full context behind each number.
| Figure | What it measures | Source | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30.4M | There were 30.4 million US nonemployer businesses in 2023, with $1.8 trillion in receipts. | US Census Bureau, Nonemployer Statistics by Demographics (NES-D) 2023, press release November 2025 | 2023 |
| 42.3% | Women owned 12.9 million (42.3%) of US nonemployer businesses in 2023, with $423.1 billion in receipts. | US Census Bureau, Nonemployer Statistics by Demographics (NES-D) 2023, press release November 2025 | 2023 |
| 2.7%/yr | From 2012 to 2023, the number of nonemployer businesses grew 2.7% a year on average, compared with 1.1% for employer businesses. | US Census Bureau, Number of U.S. Nonemployers Grew Faster Than Employer Businesses Nearly Every Year From 2012 to 2023 | 2023 |
| 2.1% | Nonemployer businesses grew 2.1% in 2023 and accounted for about 6.4% ($1.8 trillion) of US current-dollar GDP. | US Census Bureau, Number of U.S. Nonemployers Grew Faster Than Employer Businesses Nearly Every Year From 2012 to 2023 | 2023 |
| 64M | Vendor survey: 64 million Americans, 38% of the US workforce, did freelance work in the prior 12 months in 2023, up from 60 million in 2022 (Upwork Freelance Forward, 3,000 US adults). | Upwork, Freelance Forward 2023 | 2023 |
| 47% | Vendor survey: 47% of freelancers, around 30 million people, provided knowledge services such as computer programming, marketing, IT and business consulting in 2023. | Upwork, Freelance Forward 2023 | 2023 |
| 52% | Vendor survey: 52% of Gen Z and 44% of Millennial workers did freelance work in 2023, the highest shares of any generation. | Upwork, Freelance Forward 2023 | 2023 |
| 28% | Vendor survey: 28% of US skilled knowledge workers, more than 20 million people, were freelancing or working independently, generating a collective $1.5 trillion in earnings in 2024. | Upwork Research Institute, Future Workforce Index 2025 (press release) | 2025 |
| 36% | Vendor survey: 36% of full-time employees were considering freelancing, while only 10% of freelancers wanted to return to traditional employment. | Upwork Research Institute, Future Workforce Index 2025 (press release) | 2025 |
| 74.9M | Vendor survey: a record 74.9 million Americans now earn income independently, according to MBO Partners. | MBO Partners, State of Independence 2026 | 2026 |
| ~12M | Vendor survey: nearly 12 million independent service professionals build businesses around specialized expertise, and 78% of independents plan to stay independent or build a larger business. | MBO Partners, State of Independence 2026 | 2026 |
The statistics
There were 30.4 million US nonemployer businesses in 2023, with $1.8 trillion in receipts.
Source:US Census Bureau, Nonemployer Statistics by Demographics (NES-D) 2023, press release November 20252023
Women owned 12.9 million (42.3%) of US nonemployer businesses in 2023, with $423.1 billion in receipts.
Source:US Census Bureau, Nonemployer Statistics by Demographics (NES-D) 2023, press release November 20252023
From 2012 to 2023, the number of nonemployer businesses grew 2.7% a year on average, compared with 1.1% for employer businesses.
Nonemployer businesses grew 2.1% in 2023 and accounted for about 6.4% ($1.8 trillion) of US current-dollar GDP.
Vendor survey: 64 million Americans, 38% of the US workforce, did freelance work in the prior 12 months in 2023, up from 60 million in 2022 (Upwork Freelance Forward, 3,000 US adults).
Source:Upwork, Freelance Forward 20232023
Vendor survey: 47% of freelancers, around 30 million people, provided knowledge services such as computer programming, marketing, IT and business consulting in 2023.
Source:Upwork, Freelance Forward 20232023
Vendor survey: 52% of Gen Z and 44% of Millennial workers did freelance work in 2023, the highest shares of any generation.
Source:Upwork, Freelance Forward 20232023
Vendor survey: 28% of US skilled knowledge workers, more than 20 million people, were freelancing or working independently, generating a collective $1.5 trillion in earnings in 2024.
Source:Upwork Research Institute, Future Workforce Index 2025 (press release)2025
Vendor survey: 36% of full-time employees were considering freelancing, while only 10% of freelancers wanted to return to traditional employment.
Source:Upwork Research Institute, Future Workforce Index 2025 (press release)2025
Vendor survey: a record 74.9 million Americans now earn income independently, according to MBO Partners.
Source:MBO Partners, State of Independence 20262026
Vendor survey: nearly 12 million independent service professionals build businesses around specialized expertise, and 78% of independents plan to stay independent or build a larger business.
Source:MBO Partners, State of Independence 20262026
When these numbers don't apply
Aggregate statistics hide a lot. Read these caveats before quoting a figure as if it describes your specific situation.
- There is no single official count of US freelancers. Census nonemployer statistics count businesses with no paid employees that file taxes and have at least $1,000 in receipts ($1 in construction), which includes side businesses and excludes people who never file a business return.
- Upwork and MBO Partners are vendor surveys, and both companies sell services to independent workers. Upwork's 2023 count includes anyone who did any freelance work in the prior 12 months (online survey of 3,000 US adults by Edelman Data and Intelligence, October 24 to November 9, 2023). MBO's page does not publish its sample or method.
- Upwork's 2025 figure covers skilled knowledge workers only (3,000 surveyed, December 2024 to February 2025), so it is not comparable with its 2023 all-worker count.
- Headline counts differ mainly because of definitions (any freelance work, main job, registered business), not because one source is right and another wrong. Compare like with like.
- All figures are US data. For platform-based gig work and EU figures, see our gig economy statistics page.
How we compiled this data
Reviewed 2026-10-28. We kept the Upwork Freelance Forward 2023 figures that Upwork's own report page states (read via an Internet Archive copy because the page blocks automated requests), replaced MBO Partners' older 72 million count with the figure on MBO's current 2026 page, and removed a late-payment figure that belongs on our late-payment pages. We added official US Census Bureau nonemployer statistics (2023 data, published 2025) as the baseline count. Earnings, profit and income volatility figures are on our freelance income statistics page, so they are not repeated here. Each figure was checked against the linked page on the review date.
We hand-collected each figure from its original publisher rather than recycling secondary round-ups, cross-checked the headline numbers against the source documents in 2026-10-28, and link every statistic to the report it came from so you can verify it yourself. Where a publisher issues annual updates, we cite the report edition and flag the year inline.
Frequently asked questions
How many freelancers are there in the US?
It depends on the definition. The Census Bureau counted 30.4 million nonemployer businesses in 2023. Vendor surveys that include occasional freelance work count more: 64 million in 2023 (Upwork) and 74.9 million earning income independently in 2026 (MBO Partners).
Why do freelance workforce estimates differ so much?
They measure different things. Census counts tax-filing businesses with no employees and at least $1,000 in receipts. Upwork counts anyone who did freelance work in the past year, and its 2025 study covered only skilled knowledge workers (28% of them freelance). MBO uses its own definition of independent work.
Is freelancing growing?
Yes, on official and vendor measures. Census nonemployer businesses grew 2.1% in 2023 and 2.7% a year on average since 2012, faster than employer businesses (1.1%). Upwork's count rose from 60 million in 2022 to 64 million in 2023.
What kind of work do freelancers do?
Upwork found 47% of freelancers provided knowledge services such as programming, marketing, IT and consulting in 2023. MBO Partners counts nearly 12 million independent service professionals who build businesses around specialized expertise.
Who is most likely to freelance?
Younger workers, in vendor surveys: 52% of Gen Z and 44% of Millennials did freelance work in 2023 (Upwork). Among nonemployer businesses, women owned 42.3% in 2023 (Census Bureau).
Put these figures to use
- Invoicing hub: Guides and templates for writing, sending and following up on invoices.
- Accounting basics every freelancer should know: Cash vs accrual, the three core reports, a monthly close and how much to set aside for tax.
- Business bank accounts for freelancers: What to compare in a freelance business account: fees, waivers and FDIC coverage.
- Invoice number generator: Create sequential invoice numbers with a prefix, optionally including the year or month.
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