Fifty-nine million Americans, or 36% of the nation's workforce, has freelanced during the past year, up 22% from 2019, according to Upwork's "Freelance Forward" survey. The survey also found that 58% of new remote workers who don't currently freelance would consider it in the future, while Upwork CEO Hayden Brown said, "We expect this trend to continue as companies increasingly rely on freelancers as essential contributors to their own operations."

Black employees currently comprise 15% of Target's workforce and 8% of its leadership unit, so the company is aiming to boost Black representation by 20% over the next three years. Target seeks to meet the goal by "sharpening its focus on advancement, retention and hiring," with increased inclusion and anti-racism training, and creating pathways for Black employees to progress to leadership roles.

Seventy-seven percent of employees say benefits are a key component of their compensation package, up from 67% in 2019, and 73% say they're a major reason to stay with their employer, up from 59% last year, according to Prudential. In addition, 75% say employee benefits are "more important than ever before" because of the pandemic.

Coca-Cola is supporting career preparation for 5 million US youths by partnering with Boys & Girls Clubs of America. The Workforce Readiness program will help young people earn certification for specific jobs, prepare for job interviews and learn other skills necessary for today's job market, according to a statement.

Prepare yourself to move up to the next leadership level by delegating more tasks to your team now to teach them how to rely on their own skills and free yourself up to take on more responsibility, writes Liz Kislik. "The strengths that make you terrific at hands-on delivery don't always serve you perfectly once you're responsible for juggling multiple teams, issues, and priorities," Kislik writes.