demographics

Current Population Survey (CPS)

Shelly Steward — Fri, 03 Jan 2020 04:19:56 +0000

Current Population Survey (CPS) Shelly Steward Thu, 01/02/2020 - 23:19

How is it collected?

CPS is conducted monthly via telephone and in-person interviews.

Who collects it?

The US Census Bureau in collaboration with the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

What is it measuring?

The CPS is the primary source of labor force statistics for the US. It measures employment and unemployment. Among the employed, it counts how many are self-employed, and among those, how many are incorporated versus unincorporated, similar to the American Community Survey. Unincorporated self-employed workers can be seen as a measure of the gig economy. The CPS also includes income and health insurance coverage information.

What does it tell us?

As of spring 2025, there were 9.95 million unincorporated self-employed workers, representing 5.9 percent of the workforce.

Considerations

The CPS is a large, nationally representative sample, though the larger sample of the American Community Survey makes it a better source for geographically specific data. Both surveys only captures a narrow definition of the gig economy--the unincorporated self-employed.

How to access this data?

Data is publicly available on the CPS website from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Study tags

demographics

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Contingent Worker Supplement (CWS)

Shelly Steward — Thu, 07 Jun 2018 03:27:56 +0000

Contingent Worker Supplement (CWS) Shelly Steward Wed, 06/06/2018 - 23:27

How is it collected?

The CWS is a supplement to the monthly Current Population Survey (CPS) by the Census Bureau for BLS. The CPS in collected via telephone and in person among all non-institutionalized persons age 16 and over. About 60,000 households are sampled each month. The supplement was administered to a sample of respondents who reported working for pay in the past week.

Who collects it?

The CWS is administered by the Census Bureau for the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

What is it measuring?

The Contingent Worker Supplement (CWS) estimates the number of American workers in contingent and alternative arrangements as their main job in the past week. Contingent arrangements are short-term or temporary jobs, which workers do not expect to last. Alternative arrangements are particular types of relationships between workers and the individual or company who pays them, including 1) independent contractors, 2) temporary help agency workers, 3) on-call workers, and 4) workers provided by contract firms. It also gathers information on demographics, industry, and access to benefits.

In 2017 and 2023, respondents were asked if they used online platforms to arrange jobs or tasks, either online or offline.

What does it tell us?

In 2023, 10.2 percent of the workforce were engaged in alternative arrangements as their main job, including 7.4 percent as independent contractors, 2.8 1.7 as on-call workers, and 0.5 percent as contract firm workers. 4.3 percent had contingent jobs, which they did not expect to last. There was some overlap between these two categories.

In 2017, 10.1 percent of the workforce was engaged in alternative arrangements as their main job, and 3.8 percent was engaged in contingent arrangements. There was slight overlap between the two categories. About 1 percent of the workforce used apps to arrange work.

In 2005, 10.7 percent of the workforce was engaged in an alternative arrangements as their main job in the past week. 4.1 percent of the workforce was engaged in a contingent work arrangement.

Considerations

The CWS is one of the most rigorous studies of alternative work. However, it only asks about workers' main jobs—the job for which they worked the most hours—meaning it leaves out any supplemental or occasional work. In addition, it relies on workers correctly self-identifying their own employment arrangement.

How to access this data?

Data, when available, can be found on the BLS website.

Study tags

independent contractors

Reports

Contingent and Alternative Employment Arrangements - May 2017; 2018; Bureau of Labor Statistics; US Department of Labor;

Contingent and Alternative Employment Arrangements - July 2023; 2024; Bureau of Labor Statistics; US Department of Labor;

General Social Survey

ilrweb admin — Fri, 11 May 2018 19:11:11 +0000

General Social Survey ilrweb admin Fri, 05/11/2018 - 15:11

How is it collected?

The GSS uses a probability sample of the American population and consists primarily of in-person interviews. It is conducted biennially, with a sample of approximately 3,000. Different modules, or sets of questions, are asked in different years. The Quality of Working Life Module was most recently collected in 2010 and 2014. In 2014, the response rate was 69.2 percent.

Who collects it?

The National Opinion Research Center (NORC) at the University of Chicago, with support from the National Science Foundation.

What is it measuring?

The General Social Survey (GSS) collects a wide range of information on the characteristics, attitudes, and behaviors of Americans. The Quality of Worklife Module asks questions about work arrangements, asking respondents if they are independent contractors/consultants/freelancers, temp-agency workers, on-call workers, contract-company workers, or regular, permanent employees. The module also asks a range of questions about work conditions and experiences, satisfaction, and earnings and benefits.

What does it tell us?

In 2014, 20.3 percent of the population was engaged in independent contracting, on-call, temp-agency, or contract-company work as their main job.

Considerations

The GSS is designed to gauge attitudes, behaviors, and relative counts, rather than to estimate the overall size of particular groups. In addition, questions about work arrangements are only asked among respondents who identified as employed, and so self-employed individuals are not included in the above numbers.

How to access this data?

GSS data are available via the GSS website directly, the GSS Data Explorer, the Roper Center, and ICPSR.

Study tags

demographics

independent contractors

Reports

Contingent Workforce: Size, Characteristics, Earnings, and Benefits; 2015; GAO; GAO;

The Gig Economy: Research and Policy Implications of Regional, Economic, and Demographic Trends; 2017; Ben Gitis, Douglas Holtz-Eakin, and Will Rinehart; American Action Forum and Aspen Institute Future of Work Initiative;

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The Online Platform Economy

ilrweb admin — Fri, 11 May 2018 19:09:31 +0000

The Online Platform Economy ilrweb admin Fri, 05/11/2018 - 15:09

How is it collected?

Bank account records were completely anonymized prior to being released to JPMorgan Chase Institute researchers. Transaction histories from October 2012 to June 2021 were analyzed in order to track income from platform work, including its relationship to other income streams and expenses.

Who collects it?

JPMorgan Chase Institute, a think tank affiliated with JPMorgan Chase aimed at increasing understanding of the global economic system.

What is it measuring?

People's income from 128 different online platforms, extracted from JPMorgan Chase bank accounts. The most recent report focuses on the period between 2018 and 2021, including the COVID-19 pandemic. Platforms are divided into four sectors: transportation work (rideshare and delivery), non-transportation work (including both in-person and virtual services), selling goods, and leasing assets.

What does it tell us?

Prior to the pandemic, participation on platforms had been growing steadily. The percentage of households who had earned income on platforms peaked at 2.5 percent in early 2020 before dropping to 1.9 percent shortly after the onset of the pandemic. By June 2021, participation had risen back to near-peak pre-pandemic levels.

During the pandemic, participation in transportation and leasing platform work dropped most significantly, while non-transportation work remained stable and selling platforms continued to grow. Compared to the general population, platform workers - particularly those involved in the transportation sector - were more likely to receive Unemployment Insurance under the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program.

Considerations

The data are limited to JPMorgan Chase account holders, who are not fully representative of US workers; they are more likely to be men, to be between 25 and 54, live in the West, and have higher incomes than the average American. In addition, the reliance on account transactions means that hours worked and related expenses are unknowns, so information on earnings is limited.

How to access this data?

Privately held by JPMorgan Chase Institute

Study tags

Reports

The Online Platform Economy in 2018; 2018; Diana Farrell, Fiona Greig, Amar Hamoudi; JPMorgan Chase Institute;

Paychecks, Paydays, and the Online Platform Economy; 2016; Diana Farrell, Fiona Greig; JPMorgan Chase Institute;

The Online Platform Economy: Has Growth Peaked?; 2016; Diana Farrell, Fiona Greig; JPMorgan Chase Institute;

The Online Platform Economy through the Pandemic; 2021; Fiona Greig, Daniel M. Sullivan; JPMorgan Chase Institute;

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American Life Panel

ilrweb admin — Fri, 11 May 2018 19:08:12 +0000

American Life Panel ilrweb admin Fri, 05/11/2018 - 15:08

How is it collected?

This one-time 2015 survey was administered through the RAND American Life Panel, an online panel recruited using a compilation of methods, including a group recruited for the University of Michigan Internet panel, a random-digit-dial sample, and a snowball sample. There were 3,850 responses, and a response rate of 63.9 percent. Results were weighted to increase representativeness.

Who collects it?

Economists Lawrence Katz of Harvard and Alan Krueger of Princeton contracted RAND to collect the data as part of its American Life Panel.

What is it measuring?

The number of workers who report being engaged in alternative work arrangements as their main job, including temp-agency, on-call, contract-company and freelancing work. In addition, the survey asks about online platform participation, industry, and income level.

What does it tell us?

The original analysis estimated that 15.8 percent of the workforce held an independent work arrangement as their main job the prior week, including freelancing, temp-agency, contract-company, and on-call work. In 2019, the authors released a revised paper, adjusting for cyclical effects and methodological differences, and estimated that the rise in alternative arrangements between 2005 and 2015 was 1 to 2 percentage points, rather than 5.

Considerations

The results are not fully comparable to the BLS CWS, due to differences in sampling and response, as discussed by the authors in the 2019 working paper. Although it was a helpful measure in between iterations of the CWS, it is not as relevant today.

How to access this data?

RAND ALP data are available to registered researchers.

Study tags

demographics

independent contractors

Reports

Understanding Trends in Alternative Work Arrangements in the United States; 2019; Lawrence Katz and Alan Krueger; NBER;

The Rise and Nature of Alternative Work Arrangements in the United States, 1995-2015; 2016; Lawrence Katz and Alan Krueger; NBER;

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American Opportunity Survey

ilrweb admin — Fri, 11 May 2018 19:00:11 +0000

American Opportunity Survey ilrweb admin Fri, 05/11/2018 - 15:00

How is it collected?

Through an online survey conducted in spring 2022. There were 25,062 respondents, weighted to be more demographically representative.

Who collects it?

McKinsey Global Institute, the business and economics research arm of McKinsey.

What is it measuring?

McKinsey Global Institute's American Opportunity Survey focuses on economic obstacles and opportunities for people in the U.S. This survey asked about people's participation in contract, freelance, temporary, or gig work, along with demographics, outlook, and overall economic position.

What does it tell us?

36 percent of surveyed workers were engaged in contract, freelance, temporary, or gig work in some capacity. These workers tended to be younger and have lower incomes. Nearly half of all immigrants included in the survey were gig workers. Gig workers reported challenges accessing health insurance and basic needs like food, housing, and transportation.

In 2016, MGI conducted a different survey, which found that 27 percent of workers engaged in some form of gig work.

Considerations

Online surveys are not fully representative and may undercount those with lower incomes, less education, without internet access, and who are older, among other characteristics.

How to access this data?

Privately held by McKinsey Global Institute

Study tags

Reports

Independent Work: Choice, Necessity, and the Gig Economy Report; 2016; James Manyika, Susan Lund, Jacques Bughin, Kelsey Robinson, Jan Mischke, Deepa Mahajan; McKinsey Global Institute;

Freelance, Side Hustles, and Gigs; 2022; André Dua, Kweilin Ellingrud, Bryan Hancock, Ryan Luby, Anu Madgavkar, and Sarah Pemberton; McKinsey Global Institute;

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Schedule SE/C Tax Returns

ilrweb admin — Fri, 11 May 2018 18:57:03 +0000

Schedule SE/C Tax Returns ilrweb admin Fri, 05/11/2018 - 14:57

How is it collected?

Findings are based on a sample of 2014 individual tax returns, including a 10-percent sample of individuals who file a Schedule SE or Schedule C, which are used to report self-employment income and sole-proprietorships, and a 1-percent sample of W2 wage earners without self-employment income.

Who collects it?

The Office of Tax Analysis of the U.S. Department of Treasury.

What is it measuring?

The number of workers with self-employment income.

What does it tell us?

In 2014, 12 percent of all tax filers with earnings filed returns reporting self-employment income or the operation of a nonfarm sole-proprietorship, up 32 percent since 2001. 0.7 percent filed a return reporting income from an online intermediary.

Considerations

This count includes only self-employed workers, and so excludes many other gig arrangements, like temp-agency, on-call, and contract-company work. In addition, although it considers comprehensively all tax returns filed, workers may not always be filing the appropriate forms. Replication of this count is needed to track trends over time.

How to access this data?

The full returns are not publicly available, but much administrative tax data is available via the IRS Tax Statistics page.

Study tags

independent contractors

online platforms

public

worker-side

Reports

The Rise of Alternative Work Arrangements: Evidence and Implications for Tax Filing and Benefit Coverage; 2017; Emilie Jackson, Adam Looney, and Shanthi Ramnath; Dpt of Treasury Office of Tax Analysis;

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Gig Workers in America

ilrweb admin — Fri, 11 May 2018 18:52:57 +0000

Gig Workers in America ilrweb admin Fri, 05/11/2018 - 14:52

How is it collected?

This one-time survey was conducted in 2017, distributed to adults who had agreed to participate in Harris Poll surveys. 1,491 workers were surveyed, including 721 gig workers.

Who collects it?

Prudential commissioned Harris Poll to conduct the survey.

What is it measuring?

Income, access to benefits, and experiences of workers who provide service or labor and work for themselves.

What does it tell us?

Those who rely on gig work as their only source of income earn less and have less access to benefits than full-time traditional employees.

Considerations

Online panels are unlikely to be representative of the population. These findings point to interesting differences between gig only, supplemental gig, and traditional workers, but the data is not able to speak to the prevalence of these arrangements.

How to access this data?

Privately held by Prudential

Study tags

benefits

demographics

independent contractors

Reports

Gig Workers in America: Profiles, Mindsets, and Financial Wellness; 2017; Harris Poll; Prudential;

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Freelance Forward

ilrweb admin — Fri, 11 May 2018 18:51:25 +0000

Freelance Forward ilrweb admin Fri, 05/11/2018 - 14:51

How is it collected?

Through an online survey administered by Edelman Intelligence, with 3,000 total respondents including 1,142 freelancers. The sample was intended to be demographically representative.

Who collects it?

Upwork, an online freelancing platform, commissions Edelman Inteligence to conduct the survey.

This survey was known as Freelancing in America and collected in partnership with Freelancers Union, an advocacy organization for freelance workers, from 2014 to 2019.

What is it measuring?

This survey counts the number of workers who engaged in any supplemental, temporary, project- or contract-based work at any point in the past 12 months. It also asks a wide range of questions about the outlooks, experiences, satisfaction, and challenges of these workers.

What does it tell us?

In 2023, 38 percent of workers engaged in freelance work in some capacity, representing 64 million people. Since the first iteration of the survey in 2014, this has increased modestly from 34 percent.

Considerations

The survey has a particularly broad time frame for engagement in independent work, including any activity that has been done in the past year. It also includes some vague questions, leaving respondents to rely on their own interpretations of terms like "full-time." Online surveys, in addition, are unlikely to be fully representative of the population.

How to access this data?

Privately held by Upwork.

Study tags

benefits

demographics

freelancers

independent contractors