Key figures include Revelio Labs chief economist Lisa Simon, who attributes growth to layoffs freeing skilled workers and firms' cost-saving needs amid a weak job market; Sara Daw, global CEO of Liberti Group (with sub-brand CFO Centre), noting doubled business post-COVID and "unbundling" of full-time roles; and Ran Harpaz, CEO of Lettuce Financial, highlighting the shift from pejorative labels like "consultant" to "fractional" as a prestige term for solopreneurs[7]. Supporting entities are Revelio Labs (workforce intelligence) and platforms like Liberti Group connecting talent globally[1][7].
The trend accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic (post-2020), normalizing remote work, flexibility, and portfolio careers—especially among Gen Z, mothers, and elder caregivers—while economic turbulence, rapid changes (e.g., AI, geopolitics), and return-to-office mandates boosted appeal over full-time hires or big consultancies[1][3][7]. Pre-COVID, services existed (Liberti since 2001) but were niche for startups; now they serve large corporations for agility[2][7].
Newsworthy on January 20, 2026, as Revelio Labs' recent study underscores sustained post-pandemic momentum into 2024-2025, signaling a paradigm shift from temporary fad to enduring model amid ongoing volatility, with broader adoption across sectors like tech, finance, and healthcare[1][3][4][7].