We're going to need more coffee shops.

The workforce is mobilizing, strapped with laptops and AirPods. And there's a very clear correlation between the rise of homey, artisan cafes and the growing prevalence of freelance platforms.

What's that - you want your honey almond latte with a side of work-life balance? Well, you're in luck. Not only is wireless technology enabling boatloads of work to be performed outside the traditional office, employers are discovering the benefits of this modern philosophy. For jobs like writing, graphic design and coding, freelancers are often more cost-effective to hire and less demanding of a business' time and resources.

Think pieces on the subject abound, and the debate will rage on. There is nothing quite like the collaboration and camaraderie of an in-house team. Employee engagement is far easier when you can dole out personal high fives for a job well done and spitball solutions at the lunch table. But to deny the freelancing revolution is a fool's errand. Some of the world's most talented people have adopted the "gig life" and are not looking back. To work with these individuals, businesses must understand how the freelance game is played.

We've gathered some recent statistics related to freelancing and the people who do it. A number of these figures were discovered by the Upwork report, "Freelancing in America," a survey of U.S. adults who did some form of freelance work in 2018.