Today, Freelancers Union is launching an ambitious new study with researchers at Old Dominion University and the University of Minnesota, all about YOU.

Over the past 10 years, the freelance workforce has grown steadily, with more young people choosing freelance work over traditional employment in 2019. In just the three months of my tenure as Freelancer’s Union’s president, I’ve witnessed the shockwaves from the coronavirus pandemic, driving many people to try freelancing for the first time while massively impacting your ability to work. But the public’s understanding of what freelancers do hasn’t caught up with our reality.

Within Freelancers Union, too, we know it’s time for a closer look inward. Twenty-five years ago, the face of our membership was predominantly white, upper-middle-class professionals in New York City. With more than half a million members today, there’s so much more to who we are.

It’s my goal to make sure that the work we do as a Union represents every single one of you. As we focus more on advocacy, it’s crucial that I know we are standing up for your needs, no matter where you are in the country or how you identify. This study will help us get a better picture of the diverse backgrounds, professions, and personalities that make up the fullness of our community.

How it works:

The purpose of the study is to learn about what drives you to choose freelancing, the experiences you have had as a freelancer, and some general background information about you (e.g., the type of work you do, demographics).

If you choose to participate, you will be assigned to one of two groups:

1. A one-time online survey with open-ended questions about your freelancing experiences, needs as a freelancer, and involvement in Freelancers Union, and demographic questions.
2. A two- or three-time, once per week online survey with closed-ended questions on your freelancing motivation and experiences, as well as questions about your needs and Freelancers Union involvement and demographic questions.

Each survey takes about 15 minutes to complete. All responses are kept anonymous and confidential.

Start the survey now.

This link to participate will be active for the next two weeks. At the end of the study, we will have a detailed report of its findings that we can share with our members.

We’re in a time of immense change. I’ve heard from many of you that you want to be more involved in your Freelancers Union community, to stand up together to work toward a better future. Participating in this study is a small commitment that will have an enormous benefit for us all.