M Squared Consulting survey: Independent consultants are happy with their jobs

A recent poll of independent consultants nationwide conducted by M Squared Consulting found that those who choose this career path are overwhelmingly happy with it, with more than three quarters of respondents saying they are satisfied or very satisfied with their positions as independent consultants.

Most respondents are also optimistic about their performance and earnings in the coming year - 80 percent have high hopes for the economy in 2011, and more than half expect to increase their revenues this year, the survey found.

The poll also pinpointed what aspects of an independent consultant's lifestyle and career most appealed to workers. The most popular answer was the desire for interesting and challenging work. Many also reported that they had wanted to start their own business and attain a better work-life balance when they decided to become independent consultants.

Recent research conducted by the Institute for Corporate Productivity (i4cp) indicates that contingent or temporary contracts are no longer reserved for relatively low-skill positions. More employers are beginning to use contract workers for high-skill functions, the study found. According to M Squared, up to 20 percent of the workforce at some American companies is now considered contingent labor.