New report uncovers the factors driving contractor growth

Together with the Adecco Group, LinkedIn recently released the report, Flexible Working: A Career and Lifestyle Pathway, which uncovers what motivates professionals to engage in flexible work.

Incorporating results from The Adecco Group’s Global Satisfaction Survey and LinkedIn’s global data analysis of more than 4 million members, across 38 countries, who have self-identified as contractors, the report provides data and insights to help recruiters and hiring managers inform future strategies.

Here are some of the key findings:  

• Flexible employment opens the door to hire more senior professionals – Most contractors (91 percent) are in their middle to late careers, and on average, work in higher seniority roles sooner -- more than a year, on average -- than peers in non-contract roles.

• Independent professionals are choosing flexible work as a lifestyle -- The majority (54 percent) of those involved in flexible work say that they are doing so in order to pursue their own particular interests.  The top motivation among this group was that it is a stepping stone to a full-time position in their chosen field, which also skewed highest among Millennials.

• Independent professionals are consistently open to new opportunities -- According to LinkedIn data, contractors across these countries are 2.1 times more likely to view a job on LinkedIn than the average member (and 84% have done so over the past year). They are also more likely to respond to InMails and more likely to engage with content.

Please find additional findings here.