New Everest Group research · Sept 2026
Compliant
Workforce
by DesignHow Organizations Can Scale Global Contingent Workforce Programs With Confidence
Scaling a global contingent workforce is no longer a sourcing and admin problem. It's a compliance routing problem. Get Everest Group's roadmap for scaling with less risk by building smart compliance into every engagement from day one.
Get the free reportIn the report, you'll get
- New data on global contingent workforce spend, now an estimated $331 to $348 billion under management
- A map of the rules that expose you to misclassification risk: IRS rules, state ABC tests, IR35, and the EU Platform Work Directive
- Why broken handoffs between IC, AoR/CoR, and EoR create rework, delays, and audit gaps
- The 9 building blocks of a compliance-native CWM architecture
- A 7-point checklist for classifying and routing every worker before the engagement starts
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The research at a glance
Contingent workforce programs are growing faster than the processes built to keep them compliant.
$331B+
Estimated global contingent workforce spend under management in 2026 ($331 to $348 billion), up from $270 billion in 2023
Everest Group, 2026
50%
of CWM programs still run on fully manual or minimally automated processes
Everest Group survey of 100 executives, 2025
15%
of organizations say their CWM program is largely or fully automated
Everest Group survey of 100 executives, 2025
31%
rank a fragmented technology landscape among their top three CWM challenges
Everest Group survey of 96 CWM leaders, 2025
The Everest Group take
“Global CWM is no longer primarily a sourcing or administrative challenge; it is a compliance-routing architecture challenge.”
17 pages · 15-minute read
What's inside
- Global blended contingent workforces and the compliance complexity they create
- Current state and key challenges of managing a large, global contingent workforce
- The evolution toward compliance-native contingent workforce management
- Key considerations for operationalizing compliance-native CWM at scale
Written for CWM, procurement, and operations leaders, especially at media agencies, digital publishers, production companies, live events, and entertainment businesses that rely on freelance and globally distributed talent.
Frequently asked questions
What is compliance-native contingent workforce management?
It's an approach where compliance is the decision layer that routes every worker, not a check that happens after the engagement is set up. Each worker is assessed at intake based on role, entity, and jurisdiction, then sent down the right path (direct IC, AoR/CoR, EoR, or supplier-led) with the matching contract, payment, and monitoring controls.
Who should read this report?
Contingent workforce, procurement, HR operations, and finance leaders running freelancer and independent contractor programs across several countries, legal entities, or worker types, especially in media, advertising, publishing, production, and live events.
Which worker misclassification rules does it cover?
The report covers US federal IRS worker-classification and 1099 rules, state ABC tests and freelancer-protection laws (including California, Massachusetts, New York, and Illinois), the UK's IR35 off-payroll rules, and the EU Platform Work Directive.
Is the report free?
Yes. Everest Group has licensed the report to Worksuite, and you can download the full PDF for free. Fill out the short form to get instant access.
Scale your contingent workforce without scaling your risk
Get Everest Group's roadmap for classifying, routing, and paying every worker compliantly.