INDEPENDENT, INNOVATIVE, AND UNPROTECTED:

How the Old Safety Net Is Failing America’s New Workforce

Thank you for joining us

Joining us from Freelancers Union:Sara Horowitz Founder & Executive DirectorChristian Skotte Manager of Marketing &

Communications Althea Erickson Associate Director of Advocacy & Policy Rose Auerbach memberJon Pierre memberJenny Troester member

Format: • Introductions• Survey findings• Members’ stories• Questions from the press

America’s New Workforce

Who is the new workforce?

• Freelancers, consultants, independent contractors, temps, part-timers, contingent employees, and the self-employed

• 42 million workers, comprising 30% of the workforce

• Predicted to reach 40% by 2019

• Freelancers Union membership has doubled in the last two years

The new workforce during a recession

Freelancers’ income has been declining dramatically:

Top issues facing freelancers

1.Not having

enough work

2.Clients whodon’t pay

3.The high cost ofhealth insurance

2009 Survey Respondents

3,155 freelancers responded• From 49 states across the U.S.

• 57% women

• 43% men

• Average age: 45

Unemployment

Independent workers are struggling more than most: • 81% did not have enough work

• 49% experienced periods without any work

• 32% experienced periods where they wanted more work

• 12% relied on some form of government assistance

(doubled since 2007 survey)

But they don’t qualify for unemployment insurance.

Nonpayment

Independent workers are hurt by unpaid wages:

•

40% had trouble

getting paid

• They lost $6,000 on average• They spent 17,000 hours total

pursuing unpaid wages

But they can’t file unpaid wage claims like traditionalworkers.

Health Insurance

Freelancers must buy their own health insurance. The recession forced many to go without.  

• 14% went without insurance (up 2% from previous year)• 18% were forced to give it up (up 5%)• 35% cut back their coverage (up 6%)

Currently, individual plans on the market cost 300% morethan group plans.

Recommendations

Modernizing America’s Outdated Safety Net:Building sustainable, innovative solutions to protect workers inthe new economy

• Expand Unemployment Protection

• Expand Worker Protections to Include Independent Workers

• Increase Independent Workers’ Access to Affordable, Portable Benefits

Survey Respondent

“It's a difficult time to be a self-employed American. There's a lot of talk about small independent businesses helping to stimulate the economy, but the government seems to be helping everyone but

us.”

- Jason, freelance art director from Brooklyn

Learn More

For more stories and facts about how America’s outdated safety net is failing the new workforce, click below:

Read the report summary

Read the full report