Initially popular among start-ups and freelance workers, co-working spaces are gaining traction among bigger employers who want their staff to cross-pollinate, or interact with employees from other firms.

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More generally, the growing fashion for contracting out production to small independent companies has further slimmed the studios: almost 100, 000 of the people employed in the business are now freelance workers.

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To understand why these changes are so exciting for some people and so scary for others, a good place to start is the oConomy section on the website of oDesk, one of several booming online marketplaces for freelance workers.

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Similarly, experienced retirees can take on projects at their discretion, and displaced workers can use freelance work to make contacts and get their foot in the door.

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Sutton Fell says Gen-Y workers in particular are turning to freelance work by choice and out of necessity, and are finding it has its advantages.

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One example is oDesk, a marketplace for freelance talent around the globe that helps companies find, manage and pay such workers.

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