According to the U.S. Department of Labor, contingent workers are independent contractors in a global freelance marketplace. These independent contractors, consultants, and other out-sourced, non-permanent workers are hired on a project basis and are not full-time, regular employees of a company.

Since contingent workers are not technically employees, they sign a contract agreement with an employer to carry out the specified work and then leave once the job is complete. Most contingent workers agree to work for a limited period while being compensated with an hourly wage, piecework fee, commission, or a lump sum stipulated in the contract, which can be subject to other factors or policies governed by the employer.

An individual can often achieve a better work-life balance as a contingent worker. Many positions pay well and allow for remote work and flexible hours. Additionally, because the nature of the work is temporary, the person can move from job to job without having a negative impact on their resume. It can also give someone the opportunity to work in a variety of industries and gain valuable skills that can turn into a permanent position in the future.

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