Gen Z is reinventing the way America works. More than half of Gen Z professionals performed freelance work last year, compared with 38%of the overall workforce, 44% of millennials, 30% of Gen X and 26% of baby boomers, according to new research by the Upwork Research Institute.

"Our research shows that the next generation of talent sees the modern career as much more diversified and dynamic than generations past," said Kelly Monahan, managing director of the institute. "They want freedom, control and autonomy that allow them to take advantage of new, distributed ways of working that ultimately impact their performance and financial stability."