Solopreneurs & AI at work: 18 statistics for 2026

A single person can now run what used to take a team. That’s not hype — it’s in the numbers. Below are 18 sourced statistics on the rise of the one-person company and the AI productivity wave behind it. Every figure links to its source. Free to cite — a link back is appreciated.

Compiled by SEK, the indie studio building products solo, with AI.

One-Person Economy Market Size

• There were 64.6 million independent workers in the United States contributing to the one-person economy in 2024. (MBO Partners, 2024).
• Nonemployer firms totaled 26.5 million in the United States in 2022, the latest full census count. (U.S. Census Bureau, 2024).
• Unincorporated self-employed workers numbered 9.9 million in the U.S. civilian labor force as of 2024. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024).
• The independent workforce generated an estimated $1.3 trillion in annual revenue in the latest measurement year. (MBO Partners, 2024).
• Self-employed individuals accounted for 10.1 percent of all U.S. workers with positive earnings in tax data for 2022. (U.S. Census Bureau, 2024).

Solo-Founder Rates and Startup Composition

• Solo-founded firms represented 78 percent of all new employer firms started between 2019 and 2022. (U.S. Census Bureau Annual Business Survey, 2024).
• One-person nonemployer businesses made up 88 percent of all nonemployer firms in the most recent annual count. (U.S. Census Bureau, 2024).
• Approximately 23 percent of venture-scale startups that reached Series A in 2023 had a single founder. (National Venture Capital Association / PitchBook, 2024).
• The number of solo self-employed business owners grew 4.2 percent year-over-year through 2024. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024).
• Women accounted for 42 percent of all new solo nonemployer business applications filed in 2023. (U.S. Census Bureau, 2024).

AI Productivity Gains

• Generative AI is projected to automate tasks equivalent to 30 percent of hours worked in the U.S. economy by 2030. (McKinsey Global Institute, 2023).
• By 2026, 80 percent of knowledge workers are forecast to use generative AI daily. (Gartner, 2024).
• Early adopters of generative AI tools among small firms saw revenue per worker rise 14 percent within the first year. (McKinsey Global Institute, 2024).
• AI-augmented solopreneurs completed tasks 35 percent faster on average than non-users in controlled trials. (OECD, 2024).

Revenue and Future of Work Outlook

• Independent workers who adopted AI tools reported median annual revenue of $78,000 versus $52,000 for non-adopters in 2024. (MBO Partners, 2024).
• 44 percent of core worker skills are expected to change by 2027 due to AI and automation. (World Economic Forum, 2023).
• The share of U.S. workers who performed gig or freelance work in the prior month reached 16 percent in 2023. (Pew Research Center, 2024).
• Remote and hybrid arrangements now cover 58 percent of knowledge-work roles at companies with fewer than 10 employees. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024).
• By 2025, 35 percent of the U.S. workforce is projected to engage in independent or portfolio work as their primary activity. (McKinsey Global Institute, 2023).

What it adds up to

Authoritative data show the one-person economy expanding rapidly alongside measurable AI-driven productivity and revenue gains, pointing to a durable shift toward solo and portfolio careers.

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That’s the bet behind SEK: build products solo, fast, with AI — and keep the freedom that comes with it. By Sébastien de Bollivier.

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