What do some of the most progressive brands in business today have in common with the real estate industry?  More than you might think.

The Wall Street Journal reported last week the number of “freelancers” in the workforce has risen to an all-time high.  There are now more than 53 million individuals (34% of the U.S. workforce) who qualify as freelancers.

I wrote about this trend back in 2011, and suspected that it might be connected to the sluggish job market recovery after the recession, but the Wall Street Journal thinks there is something more significant taking place.

Layoffs that accompanied the recession forced many individuals to forge a living from short-term gigs, while online marketplaces such as Elance, TaskRabbit and Uber emerged to match independent workers with companies or individuals in need of labor. Plus, the rise of mobile technologies allow more people to work when and where they choose.

While the initial side effect of the recession forced many people into the world of contract work, there seems to be a support industry that quickly arose to support the needs of these workers. It also shows us that many people need/desire a framework in which to do contract or independent work.

If you’re not familiar with the companies referenced above, take a minute to look at their websites.

What do they all have in common?

They provide the overarching structure for a group of freelance workers.  On their own, most of these independent workers would not survive.   However, working inside the online marketplaces, it becomes a symbiotic relationship.

Like Elance, TaskRabbit, Uber, and a few other progressive companies, real estate organizations also provide the framework for independent workers to survive…and maybe even flourish.

This is a powerful piece of information you can start using during your interviews.

In the past, the nontraditional real estate employment model was most commonly associated with work-at-home jobs, network marketing, and a host of other questionable opportunities.

Now, over one-third of the workforce operates just like the real estate industry and the most progressive companies in the country.

Your discussion can go something like this:  Corporate jobs are not what they used to be, and starting a business on your own is too risky.  Why not do the only sensible thing and become a real estate agent?

Editor’s Note: This article was written by Ben Hess. Ben is the Founding Partner and Managing Director of Tidemark, Inc. and a regular contributor to WorkPuzzle.