For years, the workforce has been dominated by employers who believe they can get away with not hiring women, people of color, the disabled, or otherwise disadvantaged groups.
Not anymore. Freelancing is changing all that. Freelance work gives people who have been shut out of traditional jobs an opportunity to make a living and sometimes even thrive in their chosen field.
Here’s a closer look at some of the groups that are benefiting from freelancing (and some tips for getting started if you’re part of one):
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Freelancing is reshaping the types of people hired in various industries. |
| The rise of freelancing provides opportunities for individuals with diverse backgrounds and skill sets to enter the workforce. |
| Traditional hiring practices are evolving as companies embrace the flexibility and expertise offered by freelancers. |
| Freelancing allows for greater inclusion and access to job opportunities for individuals who may face barriers in traditional employment. |
| The gig economy and freelance platforms have made it easier for companies to connect with specialized talent on a project basis. |
Freelancing Levels The Playing Field For Traditionally Disadvantaged Groups
Freelancing is a great option for anyone who has been shut out of work before. If you’re looking to transition back into the workforce, freelancing may be an excellent way to ease yourself back in.
If you’re over 60, or have had a rough time finding work due to personal issues (such as health problems or even mental illness).
Freelancing might be an ideal way to keep your skills sharp and your mind active while also providing a steady source of income so that you can focus on getting better.
Freelance work also provides options for people with disabilities who otherwise couldn’t find jobs in traditional workplaces.
Freelancers don’t need degrees or professional experience; they just need to know how to do their job well enough that someone will pay them for it!
As freelancing gains popularity, it is important to understand why it is becoming more mainstream. Discover the reasons behind this shift by exploring our article on Why Freelancing Is Becoming More Mainstream and uncover the advantages of embracing the freelance lifestyle.
Freelancing Makes Education More Accessible
I’m not going to lie; I’m a sucker for statistics. But when it comes to freelancing, the numbers speak volumes.
According to Upwork, “over 50 million people are freelancing full time or part-time in the United States alone.” Not only that, but they also make an average income of $50k per year twice as much as the average employee salary!
This isn’t surprising considering how accessible education has become with technology at our fingertips and companies like Coursera offering free courses online through MOOCs (massively open online courses).
In fact, according to this infographic by LearnLiberty: “one-third of all college students today are pursuing online degrees from somewhere other than their home university.”
Freelancing Gives People With Chronic Illnesses An Option
If you have a chronic illness and are looking to stay in the workforce, freelancing can be a great option. Freelancing allows people with certain types of chronic illness to remain independent and continue making money.
It is also a way for people with illnesses like fibromyalgia, which often causes fatigue, which may make working at an office difficult or impossible.
While some people will not be able to work full time at all because of their health issues, many others will still be able to do some amount of work on their own time.
This means that working freelance lets them choose how much they want to work and where they want to spend their time doing it.
Whether it’s just sitting at home on the couch while they rest or meeting up with clients somewhere else (such as Starbucks).
Freelancing Creates Opportunities To Work Part-Time
Freelancing makes it possible for you to work part-time.
This isn’t just a benefit for the freelancer; it’s also a benefit for your company.
By providing more flexible hours, you can avoid hiring more staff, saving money on salaries and benefits while still keeping all of your employees happy.
On top of this, freelancers are often willing to take on projects that they wouldn’t be able to commit themselves fully to if they had a full-time role at your company (for example, someone who works at Google might not have time during the day to participate in an event planning committee).
Have you ever wondered how Generation Z approaches education? Gain insights into their unique school experiences by reading our article on What Generation Z Is Like in School and discover the challenges and opportunities faced by the newest generation of students.
Freelancers Can Balance Work And Family Life
Freelancers can work from home, on the go, and at any time of the day.
With such flexibility, it’s not surprising that freelancers are happier and more productive than their salaried counterparts.
Since working remotely is a possibility for freelancers, they can choose their schedules based on their personal lives and other commitments.
This means if you have young children or a spouse who works odd hours, you won’t have to compromise your work schedule for them to spend time with them.
Flexibility Can Be A Powerful Incentive To Stay In The Workforce
Flexibility is a powerful incentive to stay in the workforce. There are many benefits of freelancing, including freedom, autonomy, and flexibility.
You can choose when and how much you work.
If you have an illness or other condition that limits your ability to work full time, freelancing may be an excellent option for keeping yourself financially secure while still pursuing your passion.
This is especially true if you can find clients who appreciate working with someone who has a disability or who needs flexible hours due to family obligations like caring for children or elderly parents.
There Are Plenty Of Freelancers In Their 60s, 70s, And Beyond
There are plenty of freelancers in their 60s, 70s, and beyond. One of the most common ways to ease into retirement is by freelancing part-time.
If you’re already retired and want to earn some extra income on the side, freelance work may be perfect for you.
It could also be a great way to keep working after retirement if you’ve always loved your job and would like an excuse to stay active but not overwork yourself or even do something completely different from what you used to do at work.
If you’ve been contemplating freelancing but have questions about its merits, our informative piece on The Answer to Some of Your Questions About Why You Should Freelance has got you covered. Explore the benefits and possibilities of freelancing to make an informed decision about your career path.
Freelancing Is A Great Way To Ease Into Retirement
Freelancing can be a great way to ease into retirement. Freelancers have the advantage of being able to work on their schedule, which means they can work when other people are sleeping or otherwise not at their office.
This allows for more flexibility in scheduling and makes it easier for freelancers to work around their other obligations.
It also helps that freelancing is often seen as an enjoyable activity, so most freelancers don’t feel like they’re working; instead, it feels like play!
Further still: freelancing gives you access to new technologies even if your employer doesn’t offer them yet.
For example, consider how much time you spend reading articles and watching videos online versus actually writing anything yourself (for myself: probably 95% reading and 5% writing).
If this ratio sounds familiar then know that you’re not alone! There are thousands of people who would love nothing more than to get paid by companies just so they could use their free time creating content instead of consuming it!
Freelancing gives people more incentive than ever before not only financially but emotionally too to stay active and engaged with society while still maintaining full-time employment elsewhere
The Freelance Life Makes It Easy To Keep Working After You Retire
But freelancing is also a great way to ease into retirement. If you’re thinking about retiring but aren’t quite ready to leave the workforce (or if you want to supplement your current income with some freelance work), there are plenty of ways for you to make that transition.
One of the most obvious benefits of freelancing is that it allows you to continue doing what you love while simultaneously transitioning into a post-work life.
If you’ve spent most of your career working in an office environment and now find yourself longing for more flexibility.
Taking on some freelance gigs could be just what the doctor ordered not only do they provide freedom from 9-to-5 hours, but they also give workers more control over their schedule than many traditional jobs would allow them.
Young People Want To Freelance And They’re Getting Started At An Earlier Age Than Ever Before
Freelancing is indeed most popular among young people: according to the Freelancers Union, 47 percent of its members are between the ages of 18 and 34.
You might think that this is because they’re just starting in their careers, but the trend toward working freelance has been on the rise for years and recent studies show it continues to grow.
Freelancing gives you more control over your career path than working for an employer does.
You can take more control over what projects you take on (as long as there’s demand), which means that you can build up some experience doing things for others without having to go through a lengthy application process or interview process first.
Freelancing Introduces Kids To The Concept Of “Doing Your Own Thing.”
It’s also a great way to introduce kids to the idea of being their boss. Instead of having someone tell them what to do, they’re in charge. They can decide how much work they want to do and how much money they want to make.
Freelancing is so empowering that I’ll bet you’ve already found yourself working on projects outside of your 9-to-5 job that could eventually turn into another revenue stream or business venture.
Freelancing can have a profound impact on one’s life, and in some cases, it can even be a lifesaver. Dive into the personal story of how freelancing saved one individual by reading our heartfelt account in How Freelancing Saved My Life and discover the transformative power of pursuing a freelance career.
Parents Learn Valuable Lessons From Freelancing That They Can Pass Down To Their Children Later On
You might be surprised to learn that freelancing can help parents teach their children valuable lessons that they’ll use later in life.
Parents learn how to manage their time, energy, money, stress, and relationships.
They also learn how to manage their health–a lesson that’s important for everyone but especially so for parents who want to stay healthy so they can care for their kids long-term.
Parents Introduce Their Children To The Forces That Shape Their Time, Money, And Energy When They Freelance
Freelancing teaches parents the value of money, time, energy, and health. Freelancers have to manage their finances and plans for future work.
They also have to manage their schedules and decide what they will do with their time. With these responsibilities come many opportunities to learn about how valuable these things are (or aren’t).
When freelancers have children, they can pass on these lessons through their behavior: teaching them that working hard is worth it; that a plan needs to be made in advance;
That spending money on things is important; that you should set aside time for yourself instead of working all hours of the day;
Or even just showing gratitude for what you already have by doing what you want instead of always trying to get more stuff.
Being A Freelancer Teaches Kids About Entrepreneurship From An Early Age
Freelancing teaches kids about risk and reward, self-reliance, and entrepreneurship. It also teaches them about time management, money management, and marketing.
The skills that freelancing requires are things that kids will need for the rest of their lives. Kids who start at an early age learning these skills will be ahead when they enter the workforce later on in life.
Kids Can Contribute To The Household Income By Freelancing With Parental Supervision And Guidance, Of Course!
If you have a child interested in learning about entrepreneurship, freelancing can be a great way for them to contribute to the household income.
But parents must supervise and monitor their children’s work because there are a lot of scam artists out there who might take advantage of kids’ inexperience.
The best way for kids to get started with freelancing is by trying out some small projects first before they take on larger ones.
And if they do decide to start earning money through freelance work, they should let their parents know exactly how much they’re making so that everyone is aware of what’s going on and how much money each person has come in every month.
Freelancing Is A Great Option For Anyone Who Has Been Shut Out Of Work Before
One of the most important benefits for people who want to freelance is that it’s a great way to get back into the workforce.
If you have been unemployed for an extended period, freelancing is a great option for you because it allows you to find work and gain experience without being required to disclose your previous employment history.
If you’re looking for flexible working hours, freelancing can also be a good choice. You can choose how many hours per week or month that works best for your lifestyle and budget.
From full-time jobs with 40 hours per week or part-time opportunities with 10 hours per week, anything in between could be perfect!
Freelancing has many other benefits too: not only does it allow workers more flexibility in terms of when they work but also where they live!
Many freelancers don’t need an office space at all; instead, they do their job from home so long as their computer has internet access (and this doesn’t even have to be high speed!).
Does this mean that if there isn’t any suitable local employment available nearby then perhaps moving somewhere else might open up better opportunities elsewhere?
Or maybe even visiting another country altogether might offer better paychecks while still being able to see friends’ faces every day when they log onto Skype…
Traditional 9-5 workdays are being disrupted by the rise of freelancing. Curious to learn more about this shift? Explore our article on How Freelancing Is Disrupting the 9-5 Workday and gain insights into the changing landscape of work and the opportunities it presents.
Conclusion
Freelancing is a beautiful thing. If you’ve decided to take the plunge and start your own business, I wish you all the best.
By permitting yourself to be who you are as an individual, freelance work can provide a level of freedom and satisfaction in your life that would otherwise be impossible.
It’s also important to note that freelancing isn’t for everyone. If you don’t have the time or desire to do it, there are plenty of other jobs out there for you.
Whatever your situation may be, however, there is no reason why freelancing should disqualify anyone from getting hired (or from finding fulfillment at their current workplace). Good luck!
Further Reading
Here are some additional resources that you may find helpful to further explore the topic of freelancing:
The New York Times: “Hayden Brown of Upwork on How Freelancing Is Changing the Future of Work”: Gain insights from an interview with Hayden Brown, CEO of Upwork, as he discusses the impact of freelancing on the future of work.
We Are Indy: “The Future of Work: Is Freelancing All About the Industry?”: Discover the evolving landscape of work and the role freelancing plays in shaping the industry’s future.
Medium: “5 Ways Freelancing Is Changing the World”: Explore five key ways in which freelancing is making a significant impact on the world at large.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Freelancing?
Freelancing is a way of working where you are your boss, and you get to decide when, where, and how you work.
Most people who freelance do so in their spare time, but some people do it full-time. If you’re looking to make money from home, this might be the ideal option for you!
Can I Make Money As A Freelancer?
Absolutely! You can make as much or as little as you want it’s up to you. Some people find that they can earn more than they did at their old job by freelancing others may not see an increase in their earnings at all (but still enjoy the flexibility!).
The best thing about being a freelancer is that you get to choose what pays best for you.
Do I Need Any Qualifications Or Experience Before I Start?
Not necessarily! Some people have never done any freelance work before starting on Upwork, but they’ve been able to earn good money doing so nonetheless!
If this sounds like something that interests you, then don’t think twice about signing up today!
Why Should I Consider Freelancing?
If you want to set your schedule and be in control of your destiny, freelancing is for you.
You also get to choose which projects to take on and which clients to work with (or not).
And if you’ve ever had trouble getting paid by clients or felt like an employee wasn’t treating you fairly, this will help solve those issues for good!
What Are The Benefits Of Freelancing?
The benefits of freelancing are endless! The freedom to work on projects that interest you and receive payment on time are just two benefits of being a freelancer.
Another benefit is being able to set your hours and determine how much income you need per month so that it doesn’t feel like a job at all it feels like an opportunity!
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.