A growing number of Americans are deciding to chart their own professional paths, with new data showing a remarkable surge in individuals embracing entrepreneurship.
According to recent LinkedIn insights, the number of U.S. members adding the title “founder” to their profiles has jumped 69% compared to last year.
Even more striking, this figure has nearly tripled since the peak of the Great Reshuffle in 2022, highlighting a sustained and accelerating shift toward independent work.
LinkedIn’s Workforce Confidence survey reveals that this movement is not slowing down.
Nearly four in ten U.S. professionals say they plan to work for themselves as soon as possible, signaling a cultural and economic shift in how Americans view career stability and fulfillment.
Career experts attribute this trend to two major forces reshaping the work landscape.
First, uncertainty in the job market; including layoffs, shifting employer demands, and fluctuating economic conditions; has pushed many workers to seek greater control over their financial future. Entrepreneurship offers autonomy, flexibility, and the potential for higher earnings, making it an appealing alternative.
Second, rapid advancements in technology have dramatically lowered the barriers to starting a business. AI tools, digital marketplaces, low-cost e-commerce platforms, and remote work infrastructure have made it easier than ever for individuals to launch and scale new ventures from virtually anywhere.
From freelance consulting and online retail to tech startups and creative services, Americans are leveraging these tools to reinvent their careers and pursue long-held ambitions.
And as more professionals take the leap, experts say the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the U.S. is poised to continue expanding.
In an era defined by disruption and innovation, America’s workforce appears to be rewriting its own rules; embracing entrepreneurship not just as a backup plan, but as a preferred path to independence and opportunity.