This year, the world has suddenly had to get used to working from home as governments have imposed periodic lockdowns to stem the spread of COVID-19. This has created a new openness to spending less time at the office in an attitude shift that is likely to outlive the virus.

But the pandemic will also accelerate a more fundamental change in the workforce. Professionals are now increasingly entering the booming gig economy as companies seek greater flexibility in these uncertain times and workers are realizing they can build rewarding careers and healthy lifestyles as freelancers.

Gen Z, who has most recently started to enter the workforce, signal how the “future of work” will look. In the past year, half of the workers of this generation, born from 1997 onward, have freelanced and more than a third started since COVID-19, according to an annual report on the independent workforce by freelancing platform Upwork.

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