Young independent workers are happier than those with typical office jobs

Is working for yourself the key to happiness?

(Image credit: iStock)

published 21 October 2016

The so-called "gig economy" is growing, and its participants seem pretty chipper: Between 20 and 30 percent of the working-age population in the U.S. and Europe — about 162 million people — are independent workers, according to a recent study from McKinsey. When asked to rank their career satisfaction across a range of metrics, these people reported being happier and more satisfied professionally than workers in traditional jobs "by every measure."

"They like being their own boss, they like the independence and the flexibility and the creativity," one of the study co-authors told The Wall Street Journal.

Research shows that 18 percent of full-time independent workers make more than $100,000 a year — which does sound quite satisfying indeed.

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Kelly Gonsalves is a sex and culture writer exploring love, lust, identity, and feminism. Her work has appeared at Bustle, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, and more, and she previously worked as an associate editor for The Week. She's obsessed with badass ladies doing badass things, wellness movements, and very bad rom-coms.