Freelance Work Is Changing The Nature Of Work

If you’ve been following current events in the world of work for the last few years, you might have noticed that there’s a seismic shift happening.

It can be observed in numerous ways: an increasing number of millennials aren’t retiring at age 65; young people are leaving traditional 9-to-5 jobs behind to pursue their passions; even more, are starting small businesses from home or freelancing full time instead of getting “real” jobs.

These observations all point to the same conclusion: the nature of work is changing, and freelance work is revolutionizing what it means to go to “the office.” 

In this post, we’ll dive into new trends transforming full-time freelance work into a viable career path. We’ll talk about what they mean for your future as a working adult and how they can help change your life too!

Takeaways
Freelance work is reshaping the nature of work, offering individuals greater flexibility and autonomy in their careers.
The gig economy has played a significant role in driving the shift towards freelance work, providing platforms for connecting freelancers with clients and facilitating project-based work.
Technology has been a key enabler of freelance work, allowing freelancers to collaborate remotely and access a global marketplace of opportunities.
Freelancing offers both benefits and challenges, including the potential for increased income, a diverse range of projects, and the ability to work on one’s own terms, but also the need to manage self-employment taxes, irregular income, and self-promotion.
The changing nature of work requires individuals to develop a versatile skill set, adapt to new technologies, and continuously update their knowledge to remain competitive in the freelance marketplace.

The Freelance Economy Is Growing

The freelance economy is growing. Freelancers are becoming a more sought-after group to work for, and they’re also paid better than ever before.

The average hourly rate for a freelancer in 2017 was $52 that’s 52% higher than it was in 2010. Freelancers have more independence than traditional employees do. They can choose their work hours and often work remotely from home.

With this freedom comes productivity: according to one survey, 73% of solo workers said that they were more productive when working alone and 50% said they could complete tasks faster when working alone compared to when working with others (in an office setting).

This kind of luxury doesn’t come without its drawbacks: many people who transition from full-time employment into freelancing find themselves missing the structure provided by an employer or manager who sets deadlines and goals for them each day. 

But there’s no doubt that these newfangled work arrangements are on the rise and will continue growing as technology advances further into our lives!

When it comes to finding safe freelance opportunities and getting paid for your work, it’s crucial to choose the right platforms. Check out our comprehensive guide on List of Safe Freelance Sites to Get Paid to discover the best platforms that prioritize security and ensure fair compensation for freelancers.

You Can Negotiate The Terms Of Your Contract

If a client wants to hire you for a project, and you want to take the job, then there’s no need to negotiate. But if you’re in the position of having multiple clients who want your services and are willing to pay for them, then it’s worth thinking about your options.

If one of those options is negotiating more money or benefits from a contract that you might not have originally wanted, go for it! If a client offers good terms but not quite what you were hoping for maybe they’re only giving you two weeks’ vacation instead of the three-month leave needed by your family situation then ask them if they can do better.

A lot of freelancers don’t ask this question because they feel like they’re asking too much or being greedy when all they want is enough time off between projects so their lives aren’t upended every couple of months.

But these are conversations worth having with prospective clients; they may surprise themselves by saying yes!

You Need To Be Comfortable Using New Platforms And Apps

If you’re going to freelance, you need to be comfortable using new platforms and apps. For example, it is no longer enough just to have a LinkedIn profile.

You also need to find out what is happening on the social media platforms that are relevant to your market. There are so many different tools available that it can be hard for freelancers (and employees!) to keep track of them all. 

What’s more, it is important for freelancers not only to know how these tools work but also how they should use them for their business model and brand image not only to survive but thrive in an increasingly digital world.

As a freelancer, tracking key metrics is essential for maintaining consistency and achieving long-term success. In our article on The Consistent Freelancer: 20 Metrics You Need to Track, we delve into the important metrics that can help you evaluate your performance, optimize your workflow, and reach your freelancing goals.

There Are A Lot Of Misperceptions About Freelancers

Freelancers are not all the same. There are a lot of misperceptions about freelancers, and I’ve compiled a list of some of the most common:

• Freelancers are young, hipsters who work in coffee shops and have never held a full-time job before. Not true. While there’s certainly an element of this stereotype that holds (you’ll find many young people working as freelancers), the majority of freelance workers are middle-aged or older. 

In fact, according to figures from Upwork’s 2018 State of Independence report, more than half (54%) of independent workers identify as non-millennial; more than one quarter (26%) are over 55 years old.

• Freelancers can’t get jobs because they don’t have experience with specific software or tools like Microsoft Excel or Photoshop CC Suite used by companies for their day-to-day operations since no one trains them on them during school/college days.

So it becomes harder for them later on when they start looking for jobs after graduation where everyone else has better knowledge than them due to these reasons mentioned above which makes it difficult for them to compete against others who already know those things well enough

But then they end up not getting hired anywhere because they aren’t qualified enough yet which leads back again into this cycle where no one wants someone like me because there’s nothing special about me other than being able

You Need To Know How To Price Your Work

But how much should you charge?. The answer is it depends. There are no hard and fast rules that apply to every freelancer, but there are some general guidelines you can follow when determining your prices:

• Be strategic about what type of work you’re doing. Is it a one-off job with a short deadline? Do they want the work done ASAP and they’re willing to pay extra for that convenience? Or do they just need someone who can do this task in general, so there’s no urgency or extra cost associated with speediness? 

Knowing the answers to these questions will help guide how much money you set as your base rate per hour or project.

• Charge more if what you’re doing requires specialized knowledge/skills (and/or if those skills don’t come naturally). 

For example, if I’m a writer and am writing an article on something outside my wheelhouse (say: quantum physics), then my hourly rate would be higher than normal because it takes me longer than usual to research and writes about this topic. 

On the other hand, if I’m writing an article about something I know well (say: marketing), then my hourly rate would be lower than normal because there’s less time involved in researching and writing on familiar topics like these seem like they’d require less effort overall compared with topics outside our wheelhouses – even though it might take longer.

Freelancing has become a lifeline for millions of people, offering them freedom, flexibility, and financial stability. Learn how freelancing has positively impacted lives in our insightful post, How Freelancing Has Saved Millions of People, where we explore inspiring stories and showcase the transformative power of independent work.

The More Skills You Have, The Better Chance You Have Of Making More Money

If you’re a freelancer, you can leverage your skills to make more money. One of the best ways to do this is by charging more for your work. The more skills you have, the better chance you have of making more money.

One way that freelancers charge more is by picking and choosing which jobs they take on. For example: if a project requires certain skill sets, then an experienced freelancer will be able to choose whether or not they want that job based on how much they’d need to invest in learning those skill sets versus getting paid for their work (and any other time spent learning).

Another way that freelancers charge more is by being selective with the type of work they do for example: if there are 5 different projects available but only 1 has decent compensation attached then an experienced freelancer will pick up 1 project rather than all 5 because he knows which project will give him higher returns for his time investment (or put another way: less waste).

The Most Popular Jobs Are In Marketing Web Design And Development

The most popular jobs are in marketing and web design and development. The top five jobs are:

• Marketing and communications (including public relations)

• Web design and development, including user interface (UI) design, content management systems (CMS), interactive media, or app development.

• Customer service and support – answering customer questions via phone or email, resolving technical issues by troubleshooting software problems, etc.

• Sales and business development – selling products or services to existing customers through a variety of methods such as cold calling, lead generation through websites, etc.; building new customer relationships with potential clients; managing bids for large contracts between companies like yours to another business entity.

• IT/computer-related roles such as computer science graduates who may have experience developing apps on behalf of an employer already but want to work freelance now so they can choose where they live

A Lot Of Freelancers Say They Are Happiest Working Alone

The survey also found that freelancers are happier working alone than they were in their previous jobs. The survey asked respondents to rate their satisfaction with different aspects of their work lives on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being not satisfied at all and 5 being extremely satisfied. 

Freelancers gave themselves an average rating of 3.3 for this question, compared with 2.7 for those who worked full-time as employees or in traditional retirement plans such as pensions and 401(k)s.

You’ll Have More Control Over What Type Of Work You Do, But It Won’t Be Easy

As a freelancer, you will have more control over the type of work you do. You can choose to focus on one area or multiple areas and vary your skill set while doing so.

While that’s exciting, it also means that you’ll need to be disciplined, manage your finances, and take care of yourself regarding health insurance.

The biggest challenge for most people starting as a freelancer is figuring out how much money they will make each month. If I had known this when I started my freelance career (which was not long ago) I would have been better prepared for what was ahead financially!

Unlock the secrets to a successful freelancing career with our expert advice. In our article, Secrets I’ve Learned from Being a Freelancer, we share invaluable insights and practical tips that can help you navigate the challenges, overcome obstacles, and thrive in the freelance world.

Many Freelancers Report They Are Happier Than Full-Time Employees

Freelancers report they are happier than full-time employees, although they lack benefits and job security.

Happiness is subjective, of course. But a recent survey by Upwork found that freelancers are more likely to call themselves happy (77%) than full-time workers do (66%). This is at least partially because freelancers have more control over their work-life balance, according to the study’s findings.

They can choose where they work, what they work on, and when they take breaks from their jobs.

Freelancing Gives You More Control Over Your Work-Life Balance, But It Requires Discipline

The great thing about freelancing is that it gives you a lot of control over your work-life balance and workload.

You can decide when to take a break, whether or not to do extra work on the side, and what hours you want to work the possibilities are endless. But this also means that it’s up to you to make sure you get things done and maintain healthy habits.

You’ll have to be disciplined enough to set aside time for yourself (and your loved ones) so that life doesn’t become all about working. Otherwise, burnout will eventually catch up with you and leave everyone around feeling drained.

Likewise, when clients hire freelancers for their projects there are usually deadlines involved but these deadlines only exist if the client keeps them in mind throughout the creation process rather than just focusing on getting their money’s worth out of someone else’s labor instead of their creativity (which could lead into something bigger down the road).

Your Hours Will Vary A Lot Based On The Project You’re Doing

The nature of work is changing, and freelancers are at the forefront. There are many reasons why freelancing is becoming increasingly attractive to workers and these reasons will continue to shape how we think about jobs in the future.

Workers can now enjoy more control over their schedules than ever before. While you’ll likely have some set hours during which you’ll be expected to work (such as 8:30 am-5 pm), it’s also possible that your employer may expect you to be available during other hours as well.

For example, if someone needs help urgently on a project after normal business hours or on weekends, they can contact their employees directly through apps like Slack or Skype.

It’s also easier than ever before for workers to have flexible schedules thanks to new technologies such as online video conferencing tools like Zoom and Google Hangouts (or even just FaceTime).

This makes it possible for people who live far apart from one another whether they’re based in different cities or countries to collaborate effectively on projects together without needing face-to-face interaction every day.

This is especially useful when trying out new ideas during brainstorming sessions where being able to see each other physically might make things less productive rather than more so!

Low-Income Taxes Can Kill You If Not Done Properly

Taxes are the biggest expense for most freelancers, and it’s not just because they’re paying out a lot of money. Tax laws are complicated, and you need to know what you’re doing if you don’t want to get into trouble with the IRS or other government agencies.

The first thing is keeping good records. You should keep receipts of all your expenses and they should be organized by category! If they aren’t, it’ll be harder to fill out your income tax forms later on in the year. 

As another example, if you have a part-time job during the week but work on freelance gigs during nights and weekends (as many people do), then each day needs its column so that everything adds up correctly at year’s end when taxes must be filed by April 15th every year.

This also means being aware of which expenses can be deducted from your income so that less tax is taken out at source by employers or clients who pay with credit cards or even through direct debit from their bank accounts (which is why I made sure everyone had their account before starting this project).

For example, travel costs are related directly to getting paid jobs (airfare tickets bought solely for meeting clients overseas).

Are you on the right path to a thriving freelancing career? Discover the signs that indicate you’re heading towards success in our article, 15 Signs You’re on Your Way to a Successful Freelancing Career. From building a strong client base to honing your skills, this comprehensive guide will help you assess your progress and set yourself up for continued growth.

Final Thoughts

This article has only scratched the surface of how freelance work is changing the nature of our jobs.

There are still more questions than answers and we have only covered a small portion of this topic. The good news is that many people are interested in answering these questions, whether they work on their own or with others.

In addition, there is an increasing number of online communities dedicated to sharing ideas about freelancing, which means there will be new opportunities for everyone involved with this important issue.

Further Reading

Here are some additional resources to explore the changing nature of work:

The Changing Nature of Work: Implications for Workers and Their Employers: This book chapter from the World Bank provides in-depth insights into the evolving landscape of work, discussing the implications for both workers and employers.

How Is the Gig Economy Changing the Nature of Work?: Dive into this informative article on Orum.io to understand the impact of the gig economy on the way we work and the challenges and opportunities it presents.

Changing Nature of Work: This column from the Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR) discusses various aspects of the changing nature of work, shedding light on important trends and policy considerations.

People Also Ask

What Is Freelance Work?

Freelance work is the practice of working on a project or job without an employer or full-time job. A freelancer works for multiple clients in a single day, and can also work as a freelancer if they have a full-time job. 

Freelancers are paid per project and sometimes receive benefits depending on the number of hours they work. Freelancing has become more popular in recent years because it allows people to pursue their passion projects while earning money at the same time.

Why Should I Consider Freelancing?

Freelancing has many benefits over traditional employment. First, it allows you to work from home, which is great if you have kids or other family members who need care during the day. 

Also, freelancers don’t have to deal with office politics or office gossip you get to focus on your job! And lastly, freelancers tend to earn more than traditional employees because they don’t have any overhead costs like health insurance or retirement plans.

What Is The Freelance Economy And Why Is It So Important?

The freelance economy refers to people who work independently and are not full-time employees. Freelance workers can be self-employed, or they can work for a company that hires them as independent contractors. 

The freelance economy has grown rapidly in recent years, and its growth shows no signs of slowing down. In fact, according to Upwork’s 2019 report on freelancing, the number of freelancers in the U.S. will reach 56 million by 2020 an increase of nearly 15% from 2018 levels.

The growth of the freelance economy has created a new type of work environment where employees have more flexibility than ever before when it comes to their careers, schedules, and even where they live and work.

These changes have been especially beneficial for women (who now make up about half of all U.S.-based freelancers), millennials (who make up 44% of all U.S.-based freelancers), 

and those with disabilities or chronic illnesses who may otherwise struggle to find employment with traditional employers due to their circumstances (which can include anything from mental health issues like anxiety or depression to physical conditions like fibromyalgia).

How Will The Freelance Economy Change The Nature Of Work?

The freelance economy is already changing the nature of work. It’s been happening for years, but now it’s becoming more mainstream. As more and more people turn to freelance as a way to make money, we’ll see a rise in remote work, telecommuting, and other forms of digital labor that allow people to work remotely.

What Are Some Examples Of People Who Have Switched From Traditional Employment To Freelancing?

Some examples include people who have left traditional jobs to start their businesses or become freelancers.

They may be designers who are now working as consultants or graphic artists who are now doing freelance work for clients. Or maybe they’re engineers who left their jobs to start their consulting firm or app development company.

There are also lots of people who have switched from full-time work to part-time work so they can balance career and family life better all while making money on their schedule through freelance gigs like tutoring or babysitting.

What Are Some Examples Of Freelance Work?

There are many different types of freelance work, including writing, graphic design, web development, and marketing/advertising. Some freelancers specialize in one type of freelance work while others do several different types at once (for example, graphic designer + web developer). 

Some examples include:

• Blogger/writer – Writing for blogs and other publications online.
• Graphic designer – Designing logos or websites for clients’ businesses (sometimes called “graphic designers”).
• Web developer – Creating websites from scratch using programming languages like HTML5 and CSS3.