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Although we are in the midst of an economic downturn bad enough to get its own name (The Great Recession), now may actually be a great time to start thinking about freelancing or even starting your own business. With the new economy ahead of us, many aspects of work will be changing and those who think and act quickly may be ahead of the curve enough to benefit the most.
According to a recent article from CNNMoney.com, 31% of the workforce is now freelance, termporary or self-employed. It is estimated this number will climb to 40% by 2019. They explain:
This trend is also expected to spread beyond traditional bastions of freelancing to professions such as accounting, engineering, health care, law and sales. All are already starting to rely more heavily on contract work.
"We're in the early stages of what will be a really different era in the work-place, and a growing segment of workers will need to structure their career around this model," says Adam Sorensen, a compensation and benefits expert at WorldatWork, an association of HR executives.
The authors points out the fact that it is most advantageous to explore freelancing while still employed and suggest several ways to get started. If part of your simple living plan includes branching out on your own, reassessing your work, or starting a home business, now may be the time to seriously contemplate how you will work most effectively in the new economy. To read the entire article, see How to profit in the new economy.
Comments
I know the recession is creating a lot of hardship for many, but I'm excited to see some positive changes coming from it, too. In my opinion, more freelancing, self-determining people create a stronger and more diverse economy, stronger communities, and can also be a big step toward setting new priorities, simplifying life, and emphasizing family over career. Thanks for this article.
I read this article last week on CNN Money, and like Annie was thrilled to know that the smart, driven American public was finally taking charge of their careers. My company (MBO Partners) supports independent consultants, and we've been seeing their businesses continue to grow month after month. It's great!
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