You’ve probably heard it a million times: the future of work is freelance. While that might be true, it’s a bit like saying the future of transportation is cars.
It’s technically correct, but it doesn’t tell you why or what to expect over time. In this post, we’ll explain how and why freelancing has come to dominate the workforce, and which industries are still catching up with this trend.
We’ll also discuss what this all means for you as an individual worker, both in terms of career prospects and personal fulfillment
Takeaways |
---|
Freelancers represent the future of work, with their increasing presence and impact on the workforce. |
Freelancing offers flexibility, autonomy, and the potential for higher income for individuals who choose this career path. |
The rise of freelancing creates opportunities for businesses to tap into a global talent pool and access specialized skills. |
Embracing freelancers can lead to increased productivity and innovation within organizations. |
Freelancers should be prepared to adapt to the evolving nature of work and continuously upgrade their skills to stay competitive. |
The Number Of Freelancers Is Growing
The number of freelancers is growing. According to Upwork’s State of Independence report, the total number of independent workers in the U.S. has grown by 43% since 2014, and it’s expected to grow another 43% by 2022.
As more companies continue to move towards remote work and away from traditional office environments, more people will likely join the ranks of freelancers as they look for ways to make money while traveling or working remotely.
Embarking on a freelancing journey not only offers financial opportunities but also fuels personal growth and self-discovery.” Dive deeper into how freelancing benefits personal growth in our comprehensive guide on How Freelancing Benefits Your Personal Growth.
Freelancers Earn More Than Non-Freelancers
Freelancers can charge more for their work. As a freelancer, you are in charge of your own rates.
You don’t have to answer to a boss, so there’s no one telling you what to charge or what hours you need to work. You have the freedom and flexibility to pick and choose the projects that interest you most and the ones that pay well!
You can also take on multiple projects at once if they’re all at a similar level of pay or skill.
This gives freelancers an edge over non-freelancers when it comes to earnings because it lets them earn more money per hour worked than someone who is employed full time by a company where they are underpaid or even underappreciated (or both).
Freelancers Are Happier Than Non-Freelancers
Freelancers are happier than non-freelancers. And it’s not just a one-time thing: freelancers are happier with their work in general, and also have higher levels of job satisfaction and commitment than those who work 9-5. Why is this?
One reason may be how rewarding freelancing can be, which leads to better performance and satisfaction.
When you’re paid by the hour or project (as opposed to salary), there’s an added element of responsibility that comes with each task:
If you don’t perform well enough during your time on the clock, you’ll lose money out of your pocket.
This adds an incentive for productivity and performance which ultimately leads to happiness!
Freelancing Allows You To Prioritize Your Physical Health
When you work for yourself, you can give your body a break more often than not. You don’t have to commute to and from the office (and all those round-trip hours are tacked on to your salary).
You don’t have to dress up in business attire or even wear pants!
If you’re physically able, working from home is an option; and if there’s any way possible that working at a desk isn’t good for your body, then freelancing gives you the chance to set up shop where it makes sense.
Whether that means standing at a kitchen island with an ergonomic chair (just make sure it’s stable), sitting on the floor with your laptop propped up on some pillows, or working out of a coworking space like WeWork.
Imagine having the freedom to travel while earning a living. Discover how freelancing can give you the gift of time and travel.” Explore the possibilities in our article on How Freelancing Gave Me the Gift of Time and Travel.
Freelancing Creates Career Opportunities For Remote Workers Across The Globe, Including Emerging Economies
If you’re a freelancer, your career is not limited by where you live. The Internet allows you to work from anywhere in the world and collaborate with anyone from anywhere in the world.
This can include emerging economies like India, Brazil, and Indonesia where skilled workers are often compensated at much lower rates than their American counterparts due to currency exchange rates and the high demand for labor in these countries.
Whether it’s because of economic or cultural reasons that people choose this kind of remote work (or both).
It provides an opportunity for them to earn higher wages through freelancing while making connections with peers who share similar interests around the globe creating a bridge between emerging markets and developed ones that weren’t possible before technological advances made global communication so accessible.
Freelancers Get To Pick The Projects That Best Fit Their Skills And Passions
As a freelancer, you get to choose the projects that best fit your skills and passions.
You can focus on the things you love doing and are best at, instead of being forced into doing work you don’t like just because it pays more.
Freelancers also have more freedom over their schedules.
They decide when they want to work, where they want to work from, and how much time off they need for personal life events like vacations or family emergencies.
All without asking permission from a boss who might not understand what those things mean in real life.
You’ll Never Have A Single Boss Again
You’ll never have a single boss again. When you work for yourself, there’s no one telling you what to do. You’re the master of your destiny!
You can work when you want to and where you want to. You don’t need an office or desk space (though they might come in handy).
Work from home on your couch or at a coffee shop down the street it’s up to you.
You get to choose who is on your team and what projects interest them most, without having an HR department make decisions for everyone else in the company based on their own goals and objectives.
If something doesn’t align with someone’s values, they can leave without worrying about losing their job because freelancers are self-employed workers who aren’t tied down by anyone else’s rules but their own
Curious about the wonders of the freelance life? Uncover the joys, challenges, and rewards that come with being a freelancer.” Join us as we explore “The Wondrous Life of a Freelancer” in our captivating article on The Wondrous Life of a Freelancer.
You Can Spend More Time With Your Family
If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance that you work or have worked in an office. You may be one of those people who literally can’t wait for the weekend to roll around.
Now imagine being able to take off when your child is sick without having to ask permission from anyone, or working from home so that you can make breakfast for your kids before sending them off to school.
What if we told you that freelancers have more control over their time than full-time employees? Many freelancers choose their hours and can even work remotely if they want (or need).
For instance, while some people are stuck on a subway train at 6:00 am on their way into Manhattan, others are getting ready for bed after a long day at their beach house in Cape Cod.
The freedom of being able to set your schedule has many benefits including spending more quality time with family members or taking care of yourself.
So that when it comes time for serious financial planning say retirement you won’t be left behind by those who were able to share family vacations during their office days.
You’ll Never Be Fired From A Job You Hate
If you’re doing freelance work, the worst thing that can happen to you is not getting paid. You can always find another client and another way to get paid.
There are many reasons for this:
There are more opportunities than ever before for freelancers. There’s been a 300% increase in the number of freelancers since 2005!
More people are working remotely and they’re making more money than they would if they were employed by someone else.
No matter how good your employer is, someday they might decide that their needs aren’t as important as yours (like when your boss tells you that she/he doesn’t have time for meetings).
That’s why it’s so important to take care of yourself financially and make sure that when things change at work or even better yet.
Before things change at work you have alternative sources of income lined up so nothing will stop your success from happening!
You’re Free To Travel Anytime
When you work for yourself, you’re free to travel wherever the work is. If a client needs help with a project in New Mexico and you live in New York, that’s no problem.
You can simply ask your boss for time off and get on a plane! If a client needs help with their online marketing strategy from their home office in Bali, all bets are off or rather all flights are on.
The world becomes your office as long as you have access to an internet connection and device (which is most likely).
It’s not just about where you work; it’s also about how much time you spend away from home.
When someone else pays your salary, they expect full-time commitment and if they don’t get it they’ll fire or demote you until they do get it again. But when someone pays by the hour or job, who cares if they only see 25% of your time?
They just want 100% of what results from that time and if those results mean that part of them happens while away from home then so be it!
Is freelancing too good to be true? Learn valuable lessons from experienced freelancers and find out if the freelance life is right for you.” Discover the truth behind freelancing in our eye-opening article, The Freelance Life: Is It Too Good to Be True? 14 Lessons.
You Get To Work With More Variety And Creativity
When you’re a freelancer, you don’t have to stick with the same projects or clients for years. You can choose what type of project you want to work on and who your clientele is.
This means that if you like working in one industry but are bored with your current job, then it is much easier for you to move into another industry where there are new opportunities available.
Or if your old job has become too repetitive, freelancing will give you freedom from these limitations and allow creativity back into your life.
You Can Finally Pursue Your Dreams Of Entrepreneurship
One of the most attractive things about freelancing is the chance to work for yourself. This can mean that you work from home, or from wherever is most convenient for you.
It could mean that you manage your schedule (and thus your income) while also controlling your workload and what projects you take on.
You can also choose how much money you want to make and when. If you’re just starting as a freelancer, some clients may be willing to pay less than others because they know that they can get help without having to invest in hiring someone full-time.
As a result, freelancers can earn more than if they were working at an office job with fixed hours and strict rules about what kind of work gets done first or if they were trying to start their own business from scratch with no outside resources at all!
Working As A Freelancer Is A Great Way To Live And Make Money
If you’re a freelancer and you aren’t already, I don’t need to convince you. Working as a freelancer is a great way to live and make money. You can work from anywhere and do what you love while earning an income doing so.
There are plenty of reasons why becoming a freelance writer might seem like a good idea the most obvious being financial freedom but there are also plenty of reasons why it might not be right for everyone:
Lack of structure or routine, uncertainty around income, having to manage your schedule without the help of an employer who has done it before (you)…
But some benefits come with this kind of lifestyle: flexibility in terms of when you want or need to work; no commute time or office politics;
Being able to negotiate your pay rate according to how much value the client perceives in what you’re delivering them; getting paid for doing something that genuinely interests you instead of something just because someone else told them they needed it done…
Mastering in-demand freelance skills can help you increase your earning potential. Explore the top skills that clients are willing to pay a premium for.” Check out our comprehensive list of Top 10 Freelance Skills to Charge More and take your freelancing career to new heights.
Conclusion
Freelancers are the future of work, and that’s not going to change anytime soon. But how you approach this new way of working matters as much as what you do. You’ll want to keep these tips in mind when looking for a freelancing gig:
What Are Your Goals?
Where do you want to be in five years? Ten years? And will this current career move help you get there?
These are questions worth asking yourself before taking the plunge into freelancing. If the answer is yes, then start searching for an opportunity that aligns with your professional aspirations!
And if it’s not, consider other options like full-time employment or entrepreneurship instead; both can have their benefits as well.
So don’t feel like freelancing has to be your only choice when considering alternative ways of making money outside traditional employment arrangements.
How Will This Affect My Personal Life?
Will it impact my relationships negatively at all? Will I have enough time left over after each day’s work ends up being done to take care of myself physically (i.e., sleep)?
What about mentally how might being away from others most of my waking hour’s impact how easily I can connect socially with people?”
In some cases, people may even find themselves feeling less motivated because they aren’t getting positive feedback from others on their work (or not any more than before).
So it’s important here to consider whether or not this sort of situation would cause one problem down the road which might eventually lead them back towards traditional employment arrangements again despite having initially wanted something different altogether.”
When we talk about “career changes”, sometimes it’s easy to forget that transitioning from one type of job to another means more than just filling out paperwork or signing a contract; there could also come along with such moves lots of changes
Further Reading
Here are some additional resources to explore the topic of freelancing and the future of work:
Five Reasons Why Freelancing is the Future of Work: Discover the key factors that make freelancing a prominent aspect of the future work landscape.
5 Reasons Freelancing is the Future of Work: Explore the advantages of freelancing and how it is shaping the future of the workforce.
The Future of Work: Is Freelancing All About the Industry?: Gain insights into the evolving nature of work and the impact of freelancing across different industries.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is A Freelancer?
A freelancer is a person who works on their own, rather than as part of an organization. They are hired by companies to do work that they need to be done, but they don’t have to follow the same rules and regulations that employees do.
Why Are Freelancers Important?
Freelancers are important because they make it possible for companies to get work done without having to hire full-time staff members.
This means that companies can save money on things like health insurance and retirement plans if they use freelancers instead of full-time staff members.
It also means that there are more opportunities for people who want to work remotely or from home!
Why Are Freelancers The Future Of Work?
Freelancers have been around for decades, but with technology changing so rapidly, and companies being able to save money by hiring freelancers instead of full-time employees, more companies are using freelancers than ever before.
This is because it allows them to be flexible in their hiring needs, as well as be able to hire people from other countries without having to go through immigration or visa processes.
How Does Being A Freelancer Differ From Working For An Established Company?
Freelancers have the flexibility to choose their hours and projects, as well as how much they want to work.
They also have more freedom in terms of setting their rates they aren’t limited by corporate policies or budgets. In addition to this, freelancers usually don’t need to worry about benefits like health insurance or paid vacation time (though some companies may offer these perks).
While this may sound like a dream situation for some people, it’s important to keep in mind that freelance work can be unpredictable at times and often requires long hours when you’re trying to meet deadlines or get ahead on projects.
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.