Myths and Realities of Working at Home: Characteristics of Homebased BusinessOwners and Telecommuters

摘要

The May 1991 Current Population Survey identified 5.6 million primary homebasedbusinesses. A 1990 proprietary survey estimated 7.4 million home business owners including those with a side business, and 7.2 million freelance workers, adding to a total of 14.6 million 'homebased business' persons out of a workforce of 122.7 million. Both owning a homebased business and working at home for wages are important small business concerns. Both these labor market options add choice and variety to potential entrepreneurs and employees. Understanding why people chose these options, how homebased businesses benefit the larger economy, and whether homebased business ownership and work should be encouraged are relevant to current policy discussions. The purpose of the research is to illuminate a significant and growing phenomenon in the U.S. economy--the growth of homebased business owners and workers.