But they, like all other workers, make their living by selling their labor. Independent professionals are a burgeoning class because of the rapidity of technological advances. Companies today find it expensive and inefficient to continually retrain their workers. This is especially true since companies have trained loyalty out of the workforce through the waves of layoffs in the 80s and 90s. Companies find that too often, after investing substantially in training employees in new technologies, the employees pursue more lucrative opportunities elsewhere.
Independent professionals maintain their market value by keeping abreast of the latest advances.
By contracting them only when needed, companies share with the IP s other clients the investment in retraining and cost of the learning curve. Another effect of the rapidity of technological advance is that many companies find that new business requirements place a premium on operations that they do not perform very well. Outsourcing functions such as Information Technology support or e-commerce allows them to maintain only the permanent staff needed to focus on their core competencies. In the traditional business model, a permanent full-time work force builds a company. Because of the tight job market and scarcity of critical skills, many independent professionals are able to command enormous salaries compared to traditional workers.