BOULDER, Colo., Dec. 1, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Companies often strategically turn to freelancers during times of economic uncertainty when it is not financially possible for them to hire full-time employees. This has likely contributed to the growing number of freelancers and freelance job opportunities during COVID-19. According to recent reports, 36% of the American workforce has been freelancing during the pandemic, an increase of 2 million freelancers since 2019. Annual freelance earnings also increased by 22% this year, topping $1.2 trillion. More than a third (36%) of freelancers are earning a living by freelancing full-time. To help connect freelancers to job opportunities in 2021, FlexJobs has identified the top fifteen categories with the most freelance job listings in the FlexJobs database since the pandemic started, from March 1, 2020 - October 31, 2020.
"Over the last several months, we've seen sustained growth in the number of freelance job postings in the FlexJobs database," said Sara Sutton, Founder and CEO at FlexJobs. "Freelance workers can help tremendously during times when companies' operating budgets may be impacted and future revenue seems uncertain. As everyone broadens their views of the workplace, we predict that freelance job opportunities will continue to be available and grow well into 2021," Sutton concluded.
The career categories below had the most freelance job postings since March 1, 2020 and are considered strong bets for 2021.
1. Computer & IT
2. Accounting & Finance
3. Administrative
4. Project Management
5. Customer Service
6. Healthcare
7. Writing & Editing
8. Education & Training
9. Marketing
10. HR & Recruiting
11. Bookkeeping
12. Therapy
13. Graphic Design
14. Data Entry
15. Mortgage & Real Estate
According to FlexJobs' annual survey* of more than 1,200 freelancers completed in September 2020, 58% were optimistic about their employment situation in the next six months, 22% were neutral, and only 20% were pessimistic.
Other interesting findings include:
-- Roughly half of freelancers (49%) have been earning the same, nearly the same, or even more of their regular income during the pandemic.
-- Only 3% of freelancers say they have been less productive working from home during the pandemic.
-- Work-life balance (89%) is overwhelmingly the top reason that freelancers want a job with flexibility, followed by commute stress (50%) and time savings (45%).
-- A greater percentage of freelancers (36%) have advanced degrees compared to the overall worker population (29%).
-- When asked what they miss most about working in the office, the majority of freelancers (73%) said social interactions with their colleagues. However, 32% of freelancers say they don't miss anything about working in an office.
-- 65% of freelancers say they enjoy working, a higher rate than the general working population (55%).
Below are 15 common freelance side jobs for those considering making the shift to freelancing. The average hourly wage from Payscale is included.
1. Bookkeeper: $17/hr
2. Curriculum Writer: $27/hr
3. Copy Editor: $19/hr
4. Customer Service Representative: $14/hr
5. Editor: $20/hr
6. Executive Assistant: $21/hr
7. Graphic Designer: $17/hr
8. Lead Generation Specialist: $14/hr
9. Online ESL Teacher: $20/hr
10. Project Manager: $26/hr
11. Proofreader: $18/hr
12. Resume Writer: $20/hr
13. Social Media Manager: $16/hr
14. Virtual Assistant: $16/hr
15. Writer: $20/hr
FlexJobs has also created a guide on how to become a freelancer. For more information please visit https://www.flexjobs.com/blog/post/top-freelance-career-fields/ or contact Kathy Gardner at [email protected].
*FlexJobs created the survey, which was promoted to general audiences and its subscribers/members primarily through social media and newsletters. We used a multiple choice and multi-select question format via Survey Monkey's online platform. The survey ran from August 19, 2020 - September 7, 2020.
In celebration of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, job seekers can use the discount code FRIDAY to receive up to 67% off a subscription to FlexJobs, valid from November 23rd through December 6th.
About FlexJobs
FlexJobs is a premium online job service for professionals seeking flexible work, specializing in full-time and part-time remote jobs, employee and freelance jobs, and on-site jobs with flexible, part-time, and alternative schedules. Since its start in 2007, FlexJobs has helped more than 4 million people in their job searches and has created the largest vetted database of legitimate flexible job opportunities in over 50 career categories. In addition, FlexJobs provides robust ongoing career support including curated expert resources and career coaching services to partner with job seekers in all phases of their journey. A trusted source in the media, FlexJobs has been cited in top national outlets such as CNN, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, CNBC, Forbes, and many others. FlexJobs' Founder & CEO Sara Sutton has also launched two additional partner sites, Remote.co and 1 Million for Work Flexibility, to help provide education and awareness about the viability and benefits of flexible work. Sutton is the creator of The TRaD* Works Forum (*Telecommuting, Remote, & Distributed), dedicated to helping companies leverage the benefits of telecommuting, remote and distributed teams.
Media Contact
Kathy Gardner, FlexJobs, (203) 253-9531, [email protected]
SOURCE FlexJobs
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