2023 Report: State of Remote, Freelance Jobs

ByJessica Howington, Senior Content Manager

Though freelancing has been around about as long as paid work has, it’s often seen as risky. As a freelancer, you don’t have the same rights and protections an employee has. But that trade-off means you are free to chart whatever professional path you want.

As a result of changing employer-employee relationships, many professionals are choosing to freelance as a way to take control of their careers, finances, and future.In fact,recent reportshave indicated that nearly 40% of the U.S. workforce—or 60 million Americans—performed freelance work in the past year alone.

If you’re one of the millions considering making the leap to afreelance career, we’ve got the latest trends and data on the freelance market andfreelance jobs.

Remote Freelance Jobs: Careers, Companies, and Job Titles

Another advantage of freelancing is that you often have the ability to work remotely, including as adigital nomad. FlexJobs analyzed more than58000 companiesand their job postings across more than 50career categoriesto pinpoint rising freelance careers, the ones cooling off, and the most in-demand job titles and companies.

The lists below are ordered from highest to lowest and are based on job postings for remote freelance opportunities in the FlexJobs database from January 1, 2022, through December 31, 2022.

—Freelance Careers on the Rise

These categories each grew by at least 28%, with communications (71%) and bookkeeping (66%) experiencing a significantly high growth rate.

—Freelance Careers Trending Down

These categories declined in freelance jobs, with the most significant being education & training (26%), customer service (21%), and medical & health (20%).

—Top Companies With Remote Freelance Jobs

Ranked from highest to lowest, these companies had the most remote freelance jobs in 2022.

—Top 10 Remote Freelance Job Titles

Ranked from highest to lowest, these are the most popular remote freelance job titles that companies hired for in 2022.

How to Find Freelance Jobs

1.Perform a Targeted Search

Targeting your search is essential. When focusing on freelance work, you cantarget different keywordsto expand your results. In addition to using “freelance” as a search term, consider using other well-known terms, such as contract work, independent contractor, 1099 worker, and contract consultant. If you’re game to move into an employee role again, contract-to-hire is also an option.

2.Connect With Other Freelancers

Building a community for industry tips, information, and connection is essential. Remote freelance work can sometimes be lonely. And since you’ll be responsible for your own professional development, having others on the same path can help you access resources and valuable information—including where to get new clients.

3.Get Social & Get Networking

Don’t underestimate the power ofsocial mediaand apowerful networkin finding and landing freelance clients. Get your name out there, interact professionally, and build relationships. While you may not get a freelance client right away, having your name out there means they may come searching for you.

4.Explore Job Sites

Job boards can be an excellent way to find new clients and remote freelance jobs. Sites likebeplay中心appcan help you18beplay下载in a safe environment while connecting you with potential clients and opportunities.

How to Build a Freelance Career

Being a successful freelancer takes grit, drive, and determination, not to mention a lot of paperwork! Whether you’re a new or a seasoned freelancer, there are several things you can do tobuild a successful freelance career.

1.Know Your Market

Do some market research prior to quitting your 9-to-5. While going “all in” may seem like a good idea, you’ll be setting yourself up for failure if you don’t understand your competition or the demand for your services. Take some time to understand what the market looks like so you can build your business on solid ground.

2.Build Your Brand

Having astrong personal brandis essential when freelancing. It is what will help you communicate who you are and what you can do. This helps clients understand you and see your expertise in the field. It’s also the personality of your business, which allows you to market yourself more successfully.

3.Plan Your Finances

One of the realities of freelancing is thefeast-or-famine cycle. This can depend on a number of things, including your field and the time of year. Planning out your finances andbuilding a cushionwill help when your clients aren’t in need of as many services.

4.Prepare Your Business

Part of being a freelancer means performing the administrative tasks of running a business. Theseinclude finding健康insurance,planning for retirement,支付自雇税, and dealing with more mundane tasks, like ordering office supplies and tracking your time.

5.Find Your Mentor

Just like a mentor can help with navigating a traditional career, afreelance mentorcan help professionals navigate their freelance career. Learning from someone who knows the ins and outs of freelancing can help with finding a path to career success.

Choose Your Path

Freelancer life isn’t easy. It’s a lot of hard work and takes time and dedication to build your own business. But if you know where to look for ongoing opportunities and you stay focused and determined, you’ll be on the path to freelancer freedom in no time.

As the above lists show, FlexJobs can be an excellent resource for connecting with remote, freelance opportunities. Join today and start searching for your next freelance gig. Or, take the tour and learn more about all the ways FlexJobs can support your career ambitions.

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