30 million Americans are estimated to be independent workers, contributing nearly $1.5 trillion annually to the U.S. economy. Yet, they lack access to benefits tied to traditional employment. This creates real insecurity for freelancers, contractors, and self-employed individuals. The current system is designed for employment-based work, discouraging innovation and limiting the ability of individuals to pursue work where they can create the most value.

Portable benefits offer a path forward. By creating worker-owned accounts that move with the individual, we can expand access to benefits in a way that provides security and long-term opportunity.

Our latest Capitol Leaders resource outlines the challenges in the current system and how states are addressing them through portable benefits frameworks.

CL Portable Benefits One-Pager