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The External Workforce Index

This report highlights the rapid growth of the high-skill independent professionals engaged outside of traditional employment.

The index compiles global data from trusted sources to compare the scale and momentum of independent contracting against other external workforce models like staffing, SOW consulting, and talent platforms.

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$1.902 Trillion was Spent Globally on Independent Contractors in 2024

Source: The Global Contingent Workforce 2024, Staffing Industry Analysts

$1,902,000,000,000
Projected Global B2B Spend on Independent Contractors in 2025

Investment in Independent Talent Is Surging and It’s Reshaping the Workforce

Independent Contractors now account for the largest and fastest-growing segment of external workforce spend globally.

At $1.9 trillion annually, organizations are increasingly turning to high-skill freelancers to meet business needs with greater speed, flexibility, and expertise. And with no signs of slowing down, this shift is redefining how companies think about talent.

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Millions Are Making the Switch to Freelance

The global workforce is experiencing a seismic shift. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), nearly 30% of workers worldwide now engage in contract or non-permanent work, a figure that has grown steadily over the past decade.

If this trajectory continues, the world could see an even split between permanent and non-permanent employment by 2030. This trend reflects how businesses are increasingly relying on flexible, high-skilled independent talent to remain agile and competitive.

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30%
of the global workforce is freelancing
According to ILOSTAT:
“By 2030, over 50% people will be freelancing worldwide.
Fast forward to 2035, the total could reach to 2 billion people.”

Independent Contracting’s Rapid Growth

Source: The Global Contingent Workforce 2024, Staffing Industry Analysts

Independent Contracting Is the Engine of the External Workforce Economy

Independent contracting has emerged as the dominant force in the modern contingent workforce, outpacing staffing, SOW consulting, and platforms in both total spend and year-over-year growth.

As organizations shift toward more agile and scalable talent models, independent professionals are increasingly positioned at the center of workforce strategy.

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Regional Breakdown of Independent Contractor Spend

UNITED STATES
$690B annually
51% of total contingent workforce revenue
Source: The US Gig Economy 2024, SIA
EUROPEAN UNION
$804B annually
54% of total contingent workforce revenue
Source: The US Gig Economy 2024, SIA
APAC
$162B annually
30% of contingent workforce revenue total
Source: The US Gig Economy 2024, SIA
Independent Talent Is a Global Force

Independent contracting is not just a trend, it’s a global economic driver. The United States, European Union, and APAC together account for over $1.6 trillion in annual spend on independent contractors, representing the majority of global contingent workforce revenue.

As organizations around the world embrace flexible, project-based talent models, independent professionals are becoming core contributors to business outcomes, region by region, industry by industry.

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The Global Impact of Independent Talent

260% increase in North American companies hiring freelancers

Mellow, Trends in North America’s Global Contractor Recruitment (2022–2024)

“Independent talent now makes up the largest and fastest-growing slice of the global gig economy.”

The Global Gig Economy 2024

The freelance economy has grown 15x faster than the traditional job market

Gig Economy Statistics, Zippia, 2023

Independent workforce CAGR is 5.5% higher than overall employment (excluding farm employment).

MBO, State of Independence Report 2024

“The tech industry has increasingly turned to freelancers, especially since 2023. Tech companies seek highly skilled freelancers for long‑term roles, often integrating them deeply into their teams.”

Megan Carnegie, High-Skill Tech Freelancers Are Having a Moment,  Wired, 2023

“1.57 billion independent contractors represent 46.7% of the global labour force in 2025… projected to grow at 19.1% CAGR through 2029.

MarketPulse, AInvest 2025