More Americans going solo in the Freelance Economy as culture shifts from “get comfy job” to “I’ll make my own job.”
Noting recent Bureau of Labor Statistics reports, Bplans reports that the number of Americans quitting their jobs is at a 5-year high. This is related to a reported rise in entrepreneurial activity.
I am not surprised, as the Freelance Economy offers great opportunity and flexibility to the ambitious and talented.
While the economy was hurting, people were staying in their jobs as fear kept them in place. People now feel more confident about landing well if they quit, whether it is for another job or to create their own job.
“We’re currently in the midst of a major cultural shift—48 percent of Americans want to be entrepreneurs today. While past generations believed that the best and safest path was through a long career at a big, stable company, those in the workforce now don’t see it that way at all. The financial crisis called into question the entire notion of job security, as “stable jobs” were lost and “stable companies” turned out to be anything but.
Nowadays, many people are of the mindset that entrepreneurship is actually the more secure path. Instead of putting yourself at the mercy of layoffs and watching the heads of the company you work for make bad decisions, entrepreneurship means taking your fate into your own hands.”
According to Bplans, this is a trend that spans generations.
“A whopping 63 percent of 20-somethings want to start their own businesses, according to a recent survey…
According to the Kauffman Foundation, the 55+ age group is the fastest growing demographic of entrepreneurs. “Encore careers” are becoming more and more common, as retirees want to stay active and supplement their retirement income at the same time.”
“Encore careers.” I like it.
Spanning the divide of the millenials and the AARP set are the baby boomers under retirement age, and the 25% of them who want to go entreprenurial.
Is it just economic conditions that are pushing folks into the Freelance Economy? Nope.
Technology is making entrepreneurship accessible, from reducing cost to promoting ease of use.
“It costs almost nothing to build a basic web page, and you can set up a whole business infrastructure for under $100 a month. Virtual help desks, for example, allow small companies to offer world-class customer service without adding a whole customer service team to the payroll.”
In this regard, Bplans believes that “we are entering into a new golden age of entrepreneurship in America.”
From this solo practitioner, it is hard to argue.