MBO Partners by Beeline Releases 15th Annual State of Independence Study Revealing a Growing Talent Strategy for Businesses

As independence becomes the career path of choice, businesses gain access to a skilled, powerful, expanding workforce segment

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Sept. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Beeline, the leading technology solution provider for managing the global extended workforce, today released the 15th annual State of Independence study, produced by MBO Partners, a Beeline company. Released during Staffing Industry Analysts' Contingent Workforce Strategies Summit , the report offers an unparalleled view into the evolution of independent work in the U.S.— and what it means for businesses navigating talent shortages, rising costs, and skills gaps.

The 2025 study reveals a workforce transformation well underway: more than 72 million Americans are now working independently. These professionals are not just filling gaps—they're forming a critical, growing source of skilled, motivated talent that businesses can tap into for speed, agility, and innovation.

Key findings from the 2025 State of Independence study that matter to business leaders include:

• A record 5.6 million independent professionals now earn over $100,000 annually, signaling a mature, highly-skilled workforce ready to contribute from day one. This is a 19% increase from 2024 and an 86% increase from 2020.
• 42% of independents rely on online platforms as their primary way to find work, streamlining sourcing and onboarding for businesses.
• 74% of independents use generative AI to improve productivity and output, giving businesses access to digitally fluent, tech-enabled professionals.
• The demographic shift is accelerating: Gen Z now represents 28% of the independent workforce, bringing fresh skills and digital savvy to the market.

Importantly, independents report higher satisfaction, optimism, and long-term commitment to this path—meaning the talent pool is not only growing but becoming more stable and predictable for enterprise needs.

"Independents are not a fringe trend, they are a strategic resource," said Teresa Creech, President of MBO Partners. "As traditional employment models strain under rising labor costs and shifting worker expectations, independent professionals offer companies a cost-effective, on-demand workforce that's ready to deliver. Organizations that can engage this talent confidently and at scale gain a real competitive edge."

The study arrives just months after Beeline's acquisition of MBO Partners, combining two industry leaders to create the only end-to-end platform capable of managing every type of extended workforce—contingent, contractor, and independent talent—within a single, compliant ecosystem, and supported by MBO's proven expertise in AOR, EOR, IC classification, and talent engagement.

"This study shows what enterprise leaders are already seeing: the independent workforce is here to stay and growing stronger," said Ursula Williams, President of Staffing Industry Analysts. "Year after year, the data in this study has tracked the steady rise of independent work with remarkable consistency. The 2025 findings confirm what we've long seen in the industry: independents are a significant, skilled segment of the U.S. workforce."

The State of Independence is the longest-running research study of its kind, providing 15 years of longitudinal data on independent work. The 2025 study includes detailed insights into workforce composition, attitudes, income trends, platform use, and more.

Download the full 2025 State of Independence report here.

About MBO Partners
MBO Partners powers the independent workforce, enabling enterprises to confidently engage and manage high-value independent professionals at scale. For nearly 30 years, MBO has delivered premium AOR, EOR, and contractor compliance solutions that help companies access top talent with speed, confidence, and compliance. Now part of Beeline, MBO combines its expertise with Beeline's extended workforce platform to offer the only end-to-end solution for managing every type of external talent in one compliant ecosystem. For more information, visit mbopartners.com

Beeline acquired MBO Partners in July 2025. For information on the acquisition, please click here.

Media Contact:

Casey Bush for Beeline

Global Results Communications
[email protected]

SOURCE Beeline