The Future of Work : Freelance or Employee ?

This mini book in the BUSINESS ESSENTIEL collection published by Five Minutes offers a sharp analysis of the spectacular rise of freelancing and its impact on work organisation. Data from 2024-2025 show that almost one in three knowledge workers now operates independently and that this population could reach 1.6 billion people worldwide. The book details the motivations of freelancers - flexibility, autonomy and often higher pay - while emphasising the volatility of income and the lack of social protection. The benefits of salaried work are also examined : stability, access to retirement schemes and health insurance. The latest surveys on remote work demonstrate that hybrid arrangements are here to stay and blur the boundary between employees and independents.

Drawing on more than fifteen sources (World Economic Forum, Upwork, U.S. Federal Reserve, BLS, Stanford), this book offers a balanced and pragmatic vision of the future of work. It proposes concrete recommendations : develop portable social protection, strengthen platform transparency and invest in training to master AI. The aim is to help leaders and workers make informed choices between freelancing and salaried employment, and to imagine hybrid models capable of reconciling security and freedom. An essential read for understanding and anticipating labour market trends.