In October, online freelancing platform Upwork released it’s 'Freelancing in America 2018' report. This marks the platform’s fifth annual report looking at the state of freelancing in the United States and how freelancers fit into the overall labor market.
According to the report, there are currently 57.3 million freelancers in America, an increase of 3.7 million in the past five years. Of these, an estimated two-thirds use freelancing to supplement their income while also holding a traditional job. And overall, Americans are now spending more than 1 billion hours per week freelancing.
The report also includes the results of a survey of more than 6,000 workers. The key takeaway is that technology is making it easier for freelancers to find work, with 64% of respondents finding work online, a 22 point increase from 2014.
But that’s not the only impact technology is having on freelancing. Technology has given freelancers in underdeveloped countries the ability to connect to the global marketplace. It’s broken down barriers between nations, giving freelancers in every country the same opportunity to apply for any job posted on a global platform.
Technology promises to only increase the opportunities available to freelancers around the world. According to the World Bank, the total global freelancer population is estimated at around 84 million, demonstrating that changes in the freelancing world will likely have far reaching implications for labor markets around the globe.
Here are three ways technology is disrupting freelance work.
