This study by software company Intuit has predicted that over 60 million Americans will be “contingent workers” by 2020. That’s a startling statistic but Intuit has data to back up the claim. After the Great Recession of 2008 it was a slow uphill battle to raise the employment rate in America in all sectors but one- contingent, independent workers. From 2009-2012, during the heart of the recovery process from the recession, the amount of temporary employees rose by 29% (according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics). This increase in temporary workers includes jobs of varying degrees from all industries, not just tech.
Why is freelancing the future trend?
Although freelancing isn’t restricted to just tech jobs, the increase in freelancing has technology to thank. One of the many reasons freelancing continues to increase is because it’s become increasingly easy to telecommute. With the ability to share and collaborate on work through high definition video chats, screen shares, and data transfers, working on-location is practically the same as actually being in the office.
The cost of living in big cities working at big business is getting so expensive it’s nearly impossible to afford a sustainable life. This is why many people save on rent and live on the outskirts of big cities then make the commute. However, this can lead to having a one or two hour commute to work every day. That adds up to an extra 10-20 hours of commuting you do every week just to get to work! This seems insane to some but it’s a norm for others. By working from home this allows for a lot of saved time, effort, and money.
What to expect
Companies and employees can come together through the use of technology to be mobile and maximize efficiency, productivity, and mental well-being. Working on project-based pay as an independent worker allows the employer to closely track the employee's work without the risk of hiring someone full time for a job that won’t take 40 hours a week. The freelancer in return gets schedule flexibility and the opportunity to work multiple projects at once, accomplishing the extra tasks during those potential 20 hours of commute they’re no longer wasting.
Available jobs for freelancers are exploding, as are applications specifically used to find, track, and pay them. There are companies seeking workers to fulfill jobs in all industries including marketing, legal, healthcare, design, and architecture. There is endless opportunity for independent workers and as long as you have wifi, most people can work from anywhere.
Although freelancing isn’t restricted to just tech jobs, the increase in freelancing has technology to thank. One of the many reasons freelancing continues to increase is because it’s become increasingly easy to telecommute. With the ability to share and collaborate on work through high definition video chats, screen shares, and data transfers, working on-location is practically the same as actually being in the office.
The cost of living in big cities working at big business is getting so expensive it’s nearly impossible to afford a sustainable life. This is why many people save on rent and live on the outskirts of big cities then make the commute. However, this can lead to having a one or two hour commute to work every day. That adds up to an extra 10-20 hours of commuting you do every week just to get to work! This seems insane to some but it’s a norm for others. By working from home this allows for a lot of saved time, effort, and money.
What to expect
Companies and employees can come together through the use of technology to be mobile and maximize efficiency, productivity, and mental well-being. Working on project-based pay as an independent worker allows the employer to closely track the employee's work without the risk of hiring someone full time for a job that won’t take 40 hours a week. The freelancer in return gets schedule flexibility and the opportunity to work multiple projects at once, accomplishing the extra tasks during those potential 20 hours of commute they’re no longer wasting.
Available jobs for freelancers are exploding, as are applications specifically used to find, track, and pay them. There are companies seeking workers to fulfill jobs in all industries including marketing, legal, healthcare, design, and architecture. There is endless opportunity for independent workers and as long as you have wifi, most people can work from anywhere.
RSS Feed