A Fiverr report says 75% of surveyed full-time U.S. employees considered it likely that freelancing would become their primary income within three years, while 42% would accept lower pay to be their own boss.
Among those willing to take less pay, the average reduction they said they would accept was 25% of salary. Separately, 81% of full-time U.S. respondents said they were interested in being their own boss. These findings describe respondents’ views and intentions, not completed job changes.
Fiverr commissioned Talker Research to conduct the online survey from Sept. 21-29. It included 2,900 full-time employees and 2,850 freelancers across the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany and Australia. The questionnaire lists 2,000 full-time U.S. employees and 2,000 U.S. freelancers.
Talker Research describes its samples as non-probability and unweighted. It cautions that online survey results may not represent people without internet access.
The report also asked about everyday work. Among U.S. respondents, 53% of freelancers said flexible hours were part of their routine, compared with 25% of full-time employees. On setting their own daily priorities, 47% of freelancers reported doing so, versus 23% of employees.
The survey did not compare freelancers’ and employees’ earnings or benefits. Fiverr’s announcement included an individual account from Cameron Gurr, a former Disney employee, who said he gave up employer-sponsored health care and a safety net when he went freelance. His experience was not a survey finding.
Fiverr Chief Human Resources Officer Sharon Steiner said companies should develop ways to work with independent talent.
