(Image Source: Kelly Sikkema / Unsplash)

July 2023

According to a recent report by Pew Research Center, people who are self-employed are more likely to report higher levels of job satisfaction and lower levels of job-related stress.

In a February 2023 survey fielded by the organization, 65% of those who were self-employed reported that their jobs were fulfilling and enjoyable all the time or most of the time. In comparison, 50% of respondents who were not self-employed reported that their jobs were enjoyable and 47% reported their jobs were fulfilling, all or most of the time.

Those who were self-employed reported stress at half the rates of those who were not self-employed. Fifteen percent of those who were self-employed, and 29% of those who were not self-employed, reported that their jobs were stressful all or most of the time. Eight percent of those who were self-employed, and 19% of those who were not self-employed, reported their jobs were overwhelming, all of the time or most of the time.

Slightly less than half, 47%, of those self-employed reported that their jobs could be done from home, and 60% of that sub-group reported that they work from home all of the time. In contrast, 38% of those who were not self-employed reported the ability to work from home, and 32% of that subgroup reported that they worked from home all of the time.

About 76% of self-employed people are working full-time, as compared to 84% of those who are not self-employed. While foreign-born workers make up about 18% of the overall U.S. workforce, they account for 22% of self-employed workers. Men make up 53% of the overall workforce, but account for 64% of self-employed workers.

That brings us to today’s question. About 15 million U.S. workers are self-employed. What percentage of all U.S. workers are self-employed?

A. 15%

B. 2%

C. 10%

D. 22%

E. 40%