---
title: Independent workers in the USA are far more optimistic
description: McKinsey research finds that independent workers in the USA are far more optimistic about their futures and the outlook for the economy than the average American worker.
image: https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/Center%20of%20Optimism%20Assets/Lighthouse%20on%20the%20beach%20at%20dawn.jpg
---

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# Independent workers in the USA are far more optimistic

<https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/independentoptimism>

> Good News: independent workers in the USA reveal a distinctive characteristic: they are far more [optimistic](https://www.linkedin.com/feed/hashtag/?keywords=optimistic&highlightedUpdateUrns=urn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A6972788583397023744) about their own futures and the outlook for the economy than the average American worker.
> 
> So write [McKinsey & Company](https://www.linkedin.com/company/mckinsey/)'s [Andre Dua](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ACoAAAAKljYBbxk6wIAeVyo8BN9ken9m_FHTjDk), [Kweilin Ellingrud](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ACoAAAAH5aUB3QtPgXfmhoQ9k0euqvPZdMeOD_g), [Bryan Hancock](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ACoAAAAP1usBBNPyWAngax3UhYhcXWoCxyZEM7I), [Ryan Luby](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ACoAAAyVSqoByPJ9Tq-TrFIqe77fZAwaDTdAoIs), [Anu Madgavkar](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ACoAAAMGGvcBr2GklXCUV2qGBhaSyTggEieQQZc) and [Sarah Pemberton](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ACoAAAywf1oBC6sdGqhXRoxIlH2JXiejDo-Bsgo) in "[Freelance, side hustles, and gigs: Many more Americans have become independent workers](https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/sustainable-inclusive-growth/future-of-america/freelance-side-hustles-and-gigs-many-more-americans-have-become-independent-workers?cid=other-eml-onp-mip-mck&hlkid=c31edd8f06444687b9240c8be0836444&hctky=12018114&hdpid=6f0a6ffc-4e8a-4ba3-8d65-ddb31a65a0c3)."
> 
> They defined an independent worker as anyone who identified as a contract, freelance, temporary, or gig worker.
> 
> "The most optimistic independent workers are those who do the work because they enjoy it or because of the autonomy and flexibility it offers. The least optimistic are those who do independent work for additional discretionary income."
> 
> "The optimism of independent workers is partly buoyed by the positivity of first-generation immigrants, who have been among the most optimistic groups in all three runs of McKinsey's American Opportunity Survey."
> 
> "Intriguingly, nonimmigrant independent workers also tend to be much more optimistic than their peers."

 

[Written by Victor Perton](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/author/victor-perton)

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