NEW REPORT CALLS ON STATES TO SUPPORT INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS
- BY FGA
Naples, FL – A new report released by the Foundation for Government Accountability (FGA) highlights the growth of freelance and contract work and urges states to support the important role these entrepreneurs play in our economy.
One in five jobs in the U.S. is held by a freelance or contract worker, yet thirty-one states still have burdensome laws on the books that block freelancers’ ability to work. Despite these barriers, freelancing is expected to continue in popularity, potentially accounting for half of the American workforce in just a decade.
According to the report, states with archaic definitions of independent contractors put employers at an increased risk of liability, ultimately keeping these businesses and entrepreneurs from benefiting from this free-market relationship. FGA’s Empowering Independent Contractors reform would enable states to adopt new definitions for contract work that reflect the 21st century economy.
“In today’s high-tech economy, more and more individuals have the opportunity to work for themselves,” said Greg George, FGA senior research fellow and author of the report. “States should embrace the growth in freelancing and allow more people—including welfare enrollees, retirees, stay-at-home parents, and more—the opportunity to work.”
The full report can be found here.
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The Foundation for Government Accountability is a non–profit, multi–state think tank that specializes in health care, welfare, and work reform. To learn more, visit TheFGA.org.
