The Economy Was Great Last Year — But Were You?

When I was originally conducting research on the current economic market of the United States of America, I had one overwhelming thought: we’re in a recession for sure. People are spending less. My social media feed is saying no one is shopping at Target. We’re doomed as a country.

But man, was I wrong.

Article after article stated that our economy is not doomsday at all—it’s actually improving, right on pace with post-pandemic growth. GDP from quarter two was up 3%, and quarter three saw growth of 4.3%. Nothing to see here, boys.

And yet…

Why Doesn’t It Feel This Way?

If the economy is supposedly doing so well, why does it feel like everyone is struggling?

Why is moving from the U.S. to Canada heavily trending on Google? (By the way, Canada has its own challenges—GDP growth there was 0.6% one quarter and -0.4% the next.)

And while two million jobs were added in 2024, only 539,000 were added in 2025.

According to Investopedia, a recession is defined as two consecutive quarters of shrinking GDP. And if you believe recent job reports, we’ve had negative job growth.

So while the price of everyday items like soap, toothpaste, detergent, and cereal continues to rise—and the value of the dollar barely moves—it’s no wonder things feel off.

How Do We Tackle the Job Market in 2026?

Maybe the Problem Is You?

So what’s the solution? Buckle up, save what little we have, eat ramen noodles, sneak snacks into the movies, and pick up a second job on top of the 9–5?

Or… maybe there’s another option.

Freelancing.

An estimated 65 million Americans freelanced in 2024, with some economists putting that number as high as 74 million—that’s roughly 38% of the workforce.

Globally, 1.65 billion people freelance. That’s 1 in 8 people.

Suddenly, it doesn’t sound so scary.

How to Be in the Other Seven

This shouldn’t be frightening—it should be empowering.

There are countless stories of people becoming solopreneurs or business owners, and there has never been an easier time to start. Registering a business with your state takes minutes.

For those still competing for traditional jobs, recession-proof skills—especially soft skills—are in extremely high demand.

Examples include:

Communication
Writing
Team Building
Collaboration
Public Speaking
Analytical Thinking

These skills are in high demand across industries. There are also countless free resources—books, libraries, and online tools—that can help you build them.

A Few of My Personal Favorites & Recommendations

Think and Grow Rich
How to Win Friends and Influence People
Shoe Dog
The Power of Broke
The Millionaire Fastlane
Beyond Positive Thinking
Who Moved My Cheese?

While you’re brushing off your résumé, you might as well sharpen the skills you already have—or better yet, create your own opportunity.

Want help building financial stability in any economy?

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About the author: Redith Wilson is Co-Founder of The Wilson Legacy Group, focused on financial education and legacy planning for middle-income families.

Educational content only. Not financial, tax, or legal advice.