Flexibility is key to retention, with 77% of workers placing flexible schedules at the top of their list of priorities, according to the annual Flexible Workforce Report produced by WorkWhile.
“Flex work isn’t just a trend—it’s the preferred way to earn a living for millions of workers. As the nature of work evolves, flexible roles are becoming essential across industries—not only for office workers but also for warehouse associates, delivery drivers, and line cooks. The workers surveyed now earn an average of 51% of their total income through flexible work platforms. We’re committed to meeting them where they are by providing meaningful, flexible opportunities where their contributions are truly valued,” says Jarah Euston, WorkWhile CEO. “Today, about 81 million Americans—over half of the labor force—earn their living through hourly work, driving sectors like retail, hospitality, manufacturing, and logistics. These workers sustain vital operations and strengthen the U.S. economy.”
Key takeaways:
- Workers in the survey were nearly evenly split between male and female, 22% were married, 57% had children at home, and 42% have served as a gig worker for more than 1.4 years.
- 78% of workers prefer next-day pay, and 56% prefer same-day pay, highlighting the priority for immediate income access.
- On average, 51% of workers choose flexible work as their main income source, with this number increasing to 53% for single parents.
- 47% of workers feel neutral about artificial intelligence’s (AI’s) impact.
