Why the new employer of choice is no employer at all

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A decade ago, the answer might have been McKinsey, Google, or Goldman Sachs. But increasingly, the employer of choice for top talent is no employer at all. From creators to independent consultants, professionals of every stripe are abandoning traditional employment to work for the internet.

As of 2021, 70 million Americans consider themselves freelancers. By 2028, that number is expected to be 90 million, which will make America a majority freelance nation.

This trend presents yet another challenge to the talent models of traditional employers. Companies are already reeling from a wave of resignations catalyzed by burnout and exacerbated by mandates to return to the office. Meanwhile, America is in the middle of a serious labor shortage that is only getting worse due to shifting demographic trends. The viability of independent work will only make this situation harder.

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