vBENCH thinks it has one solution. The startup, cobased in the Twin Cities, announced today a U.S.-only “talent exchange” that seeks to counter the massive amount of contract work that Americans lose out on, year after year, due to “offshoring.” Yep, let’s hear it for “onshoring” — keeping more of that work here in the good ol’ USA!
The wave of contingent workers continues to build, says vBENCH, with many reports citing a shift away from the 40-hour work week to a more flexible, on-demand workforce. 
Cofounder JT Eberly (based here) notes that, though the official U.S. unemployment rate is now around 7.2%, “many experts believe the actual figure is in the mid-teens when you look at those who are underemployed and have stopped looking for work.” A large number of those have either done contract or freelance work in the past, or could start doing it — IF there was a better, more efficient way for them to find work and get paid for it quickly and efficiently.
“We believe a significant number of highly skilled U.S-based professionals remain undiscovered, underutilized, and unemployed,” Eberly said. ” At vBENCH, we’re out to empower this onshore talent pool with a platform to establish themselves as ‘solopreneurs’ — so we can keep lots more income here at home.” Beginning today, at www.vBENCH.com, any hiring company can post a project for no cost, and independent contractors in a wide variety of professions can sign up for a free profile. Read today’s full news announcement here.