independent contractor
A self-employed worker under the applicable legal test rather than an employee merely because of a label.
A self-employed worker under the applicable legal test rather than an employee merely because of a label.
The boundary of “independent contractor” matters as much as its headline meaning. Ask who or what is counted, the event that triggers the concept, and the circumstances excluded by the source. A nearby everyday phrase may not share those boundaries.
When two sources appear inconsistent, compare definitions before comparing values. Different universes, time bases, jurisdictions, rounding practices, or legal programs can produce different answers without either publication being incorrect.
Quote the source label in research notes and preserve the period and URL. Do not import this definition into another statute or dataset until its methodology confirms the same use. LaborBrief supplies orientation, while the linked primary publication controls the technical reading.
For a final check, restate the finding with the full definition: A self-employed worker under the applicable legal test rather than an employee merely because of a label. If that wording no longer supports the intended claim, narrow the claim and return to the primary source. This discipline keeps “independent contractor” tied to evidence instead of intuition.
For a final check, restate the finding with the full definition: A self-employed worker under the applicable legal test rather than an employee merely because of a label. If that wording no longer supports the intended claim, narrow the claim and return to the primary source. This discipline keeps “independent contractor” tied to evidence instead of intuition.
For a final check, restate the finding with the full definition: A self-employed worker under the applicable legal test rather than an employee merely because of a label. If that wording no longer supports the intended claim, narrow the claim and return to the primary source. This discipline keeps “independent contractor” tied to evidence instead of intuition.
For a final check, restate the finding with the full definition: A self-employed worker under the applicable legal test rather than an employee merely because of a label. If that wording no longer supports the intended claim, narrow the claim and return to the primary source. This discipline keeps “independent contractor” tied to evidence instead of intuition.
Use the definition
See the term in context through the occupation profiles, state references, wage comparisons, worker-rights topics, methods library, and verification rules.
Primary sources
- Primary definition source for independent contractor — Definitions checked August 2026