MBO Partners' 2026 State of Independence survey counts 74.9 million U.S. adults doing independent work. The company-sponsored estimate uses a broad definition and cannot be added to payroll employment.
Indeed Hiring Lab estimates the U.S. labor force has shrunk by about 700,000 workers so far in 2026. With fewer available workers, modest payroll gains can still push unemployment down.
Median employee tenure rose to 4.1 years in January 2026 and fewer workers were new to their employer, BLS reported. The shift fits a lower-churn labor market, but tenure alone cannot say whether employers stopped recruiting.
The 4.1% unemployment rate counts only people actively searching. Broader measures put underutilization at 7.7%, and job searches are running longer than a year ago.
