From Rebels to Resources: The Evolution of Freelancers

“You’re a freelancer? That means you can’t get a job or you’re difficult to work with,” said the smug man after I introduced myself. He smirked triumphantly as if he exposed a dirty little secret.

It was 2005 and I just went freelance. Unless you were something cool like a photojournalist or a web developer, freelancing was a dirty word.

In my experience, people not only assumed I couldn’t get a “real job,” they also thought freelancers were less reliable. Or that our skills and experience weren’t as good as our peers who worked in traditional jobs. After all, if we were good enough to hire, we’d be working for someone else, right?

At that time, I also lived in a small city where freelancers weren’t seen as professionals. Many assumed I was a housewife seeking an occasional project for fun money.

What surprised me most were that clients expected to be disappointed. Since I didn’t work for a “real company,” they figured I’d miss deadlines and provide inferior customer service.

Compared to how people view freelancers today, those perspectives seem like the knuckle-dragging dark ages.

From rebels to resources

Freelancers used to be the rebellious outliers of the working world. Now, we’re a respected symbol of the modern workforce. In one study, 60 percent say freelancing has become more respected as a career path.

This shift in how we work is so popular that today, freelancers make up an impressive 35 percent of the U.S. workforce. And our size isn’t the only significant number: Freelance earnings contribute nearly $1 trillion to the U.S. economy each year. Our impact will likely soar as freelancers are predicted to total half of the U.S. workforce by 2020.

Not only are more workers freelancing, companies are increasing demand for them too. According to one survey, 95 percent of companies believe freelancers are key to developing and running a successful business.

But this perspective shift didn’t come from spontaneous enlightenment. A perfect storm of conditions came together, which made using freelancers almost inevitable. In a nutshell:

• Our largest workforce (millennials) demand greater work/life balance
• Companies face a worsening talent shortage
• The cost of doing business continues rising
• New technologies make it easier to work remotely
• There’s more widespread access to high-speed internet
• Growing competition forces companies to move faster, with more agility

Freelancers help companies work more nimbly, access high-end talent, and manage costs. On the flip side, freelancing gives individuals more control over their earnings, time, and professional growth.

Unfettered, but not unstable

In my early freelancing days, some peers would envy my freedom. Then quickly say, “But I could never do it. I need a steady paycheck.” As in anything else, freelancing has its pros and cons. One of the cons is creating a regular stream of work, which may be difficult if you live in an area with limited opportunities.

Thankfully, the internet’s made finding steady work a whole lot easier. In the latest Freelancing in America study, 73 percent say technology—such as online marketplaces—make it easier to find work. In fact, 66 percent say the amount of work they obtained online had increased within this past year alone.

Having it all

When people think of freelancers, they usually think of creatives and coders. But now, professionals including lawyers and accountants are making the switch too. Attorney Kay Ma freelances so she can spend more time on her cake-making business. “A lot of freelance solicitors are good lawyers – and something else. I can be a serious lawyer and have other interests without feeling like I am committing adultery on my career,” says Ma.

In case you’re wondering, most of us aren’t sacrificing pay for our freedom either. Over half report that within a year of leaving their full-time job, they earned more as freelancers.

Although everyone has different reasons for freelancing, the majority said they didn’t feel forced into it because of economic reasons. Six out of ten say it was a lifestyle choice. The top two reasons cited are: “To be my own boss” (77 percent), and “to have flexibility in my schedule” (73 percent).

There’s never been a better time to freelance, or to get your projects done using freelance talent. Not only can you get more work done, faster—it can get done by some of the most experienced talent available.

If you’ve got a project ready to start, why wait? Get started today!

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