The workspace is undergoing profound changes, with freelancing gaining momentum.
In fact, remote jobs are becoming a way of life for people of all ages in the global workforce, especially Gen Zs. More professionals and corporate workers are ditching the 9-to-5 setting to become independent workers.
The need for expert global talent and flexibility drives this redirection.
But as the gig economy continues to grow, there is an increasing demand for up-to-date statistics on the freelancing labor market.
How many freelancers are there?
What is the hourly rate of a freelance writer, graphic design expert, or other independent contractor with specialized skills?
Here, we will address pressing questions and examine top freelancing statistics, population trends, market projections, and data on income by skill and location. From interpreting these data, companies, policymakers, and workers can make informed decisions.
Need to hire a freelancer?
Hire elite freelance talent with WeSellTalent. From single gigs to large projects, our freelancers are ready to help.
The rapid growth of global freelancing
The idea of freelancing is an old idea, going back to the times of ancient skilled artisans who worked as independent contractors (architects, scribes, stonemasons, etc.).
However, the model of work has become increasingly popular in modern times and is now considered a lifelong career, offering autonomy and flexibility.
Before 2010, the International Labor Organization estimated that more than half of the world’s workforce was self-employed.
Currently, the percentage of freelancers has reached an all-time high since 2014, with an estimated 1.57 billion independent workers in 2025. The numbers indicate that more and more people are taking the plunge into the gig economy to be their own boss.
Consequently, the global freelance market is expected to reach an astonishing $1.4 trillion by 2026, with a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of up to 15%.
Notably, the United States has the largest freelance market of any nation, with about 180 million working freelance professionals in 2025 (about 40% of the US workforce). This new reality of the US Freelance Economy reveals a value of up to $1.3 trillion.
While developed countries (the US, UK, and Canada) are leading the charts in total earnings, developing economies have seen the most significant growth, boosting their freelance workforces.
Notably, South Africa has recorded a 126% annual increase in the number of freelancers. These stats have shown that there is no slowing down. Thus, you should stay ahead while anticipating the addition of more professionals into this space.
There are various freelance jobs, with content writers accounting for 82% of independent workers in the United States. Writing has been shown to be a popular choice, because many US freelancers find it easier to learn.
Also, it requires only basic grammar (focusing on English) and a simple content structure.
Trends and demographics of the gig economy
The freelance workforce comprises people from diverse social demographics.
Notably, there has been a shift away from the original male dominance found in traditional workspaces. While 47.7% of the 76.4 million US independent workers are male freelancers, 52.3% are female freelancers.
Nonetheless, a gender disparity persists in remuneration, with female freelancers earning an average of 70 cents for every dollar compared to male freelancers.
Additionally, the percentage of freelancers varies by age. According to a 2023 US survey, millennials comprised the largest share of the freelance market, accounting for approximately 45% of the total freelance workforce.
Unexpectedly, more and more Gen Zs are making the switch to freelancing, a shift that will redefine how future generations perceive and engage with work.
Around 53% of Gen Zs are embracing full-time freelance employment, and 61% are embracing it to enjoy a better work-life balance. However, as young people take on freelance work, the average age of US freelancers remains 38.
Until this point, the focus has been on the United States, so below are key figures that illustrate the regional split of freelancers:
- The UK has approximately 4.39 million full-time freelancers, reduced from over 5 million in 2020. Furthermore, UK freelancers contribute approximately £162 billion to the economy.
- There are about 3 million freelancers altogether in Germany, France, and Spain. This figure shows that since 2009, according to Statista, Germany has seen a 7% decline in the number of freelance workers, while France and Spain have recorded 92% and 40% increases, respectively.
- Africa holds just over 10% of the world’s freelance workforce, and this number will continue to increase in the coming years.
- In the Asia Pacific, up to 84% of hiring managers outsource jobs to freelancers. The Philippines’ freelance economy grew by 208% in 2020, making it the world’s leading freelance economy.
- China’s workforce is made up of 46% self-employed workers, Japan has 3.4 million independent contractors, and India houses up to 15 million freelancers.
Contrary to the perception that the freelance space is filled with less educated people, statistics show a significantly higher percentage of educated professionals. In fact, people venturing into the freelance career are not novices.
They must have bagged some kind of certification or degree, and even gained practical experience as traditional employees.
In the US, about 50% of freelance workers hold a postgraduate degree, and 69% hold a bachelor’s degree.
The expanding freelance market
The rise of digital and remote work platforms has driven a shift toward freelancing, especially since COVID. The freelance workforce has made a significant contribution to the global economy, driving notable growth and deep transformation of the labor market.
About 28% of skilled workers now work as independent contractors, with 48% of CEOs planning to increase freelance hiring and demand rates in the coming year.
In the past, the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector was used as a cost-effective way to outsource certain tasks. And this has been maintained because businesses have found it a strategic advantage.
Thus, the BPO market, valued at an estimated $343.3 billion in 2024, is now expected to double that amount (around $739.4 billion) by 2033. Moreover, the market should continue on this growth trajectory, with a robust CAGR of 8.9%.
The expansion is further influenced by the outsourcing of supplementary functions, such as IT management, HR, customer service, and accounting, by several corporations.
The stats further reveal that the type of services offered remains the bedrock, with the BPO market capturing a total share of 34.5% in 2023.
The main users of BPOs are large enterprises; hence, they are undoubtedly the market’s most significant financial strength and have contributed a staggering 67% market share through 2023, thereby influencing the freelance market size.
The IT and Telecommunications industry was the leading vertical in 2023, accounting for a 36.1% share of the overall BPO market.
Also, the use of BPO across regions varies, with North America leading and capturing 38.4% of the global market share in 2023. As a result, this geo-region generated up to $121 billion (USD) in revenue.
Freelance rates and earnings
According to a major global study, most freelancers earn an average hourly rate of $101.50. This figure shows what freelance project management, data science, machine learning, and other professionals with in-demand soft skills charge per hour.
Nevertheless, this calculated average results from the influence of top earners in developed countries. In the US, for instance, a good number of freelancers earn an average of $47.71 an hour, which is a significant figure compared to many other countries.
Generally, people who specialize in advanced fields have no problem with irregular income and receive higher rates.
The highest-paid industry is Banking and Finance, with an average hourly rate of $110.88. Following behind is the Pharmaceutical or Healthcare sector, where freelancers can get $109.83/hr for consulting and specialized projects.
This shows the increasing demand for expertise across regulated industries.
Specialized AI and Machine Learning Engineers charge between $35 and $160 per hour globally. Experts in the Energy sector can earn up to $108.82/hr.
So, the key to premium pricing lies in specialization: experts in these roles charge up to 60% more than the regular freelance baseline.
Another critical influence on freelance hourly rates across different geographic regions is the cost of living and outsourcing dynamics, creating significant rate differences between US and EU clients and employers from other regions.
While a US developer may charge $95 to $110 per hour, the same skilled talent in India typically charges $30 to $50 per hour.
Furthermore, the best freelancers can command far higher rates.
The earnings of independent contractors can be substanial: about 65% have declared that their current income exceeds or equals their earnings as full-time employees.
Shifts in demand of freelance skills
The demand for global talents and experiences in certain fields is at an all-time high. Notably, companies are seeking full-time freelancers in specialized service sectors such as computer programming, IT, business consulting, and marketing.
These account for 53% of the entire freelance workforce in the United States, a staggering 50% increase from the figures recorded in the past year.
Also, creative disciplines with technical skills, such as Machine Learning and UX Design, are commanding top rates on the freelance market.
Global organizations are seeking experienced workers in Generative AI, with up to a 600% increase in weekly job postings on major platforms in 2023.
In the UK, professionals with a strong foundation in Market Research earn an average daily rate of £491, just behind Strategy professionals who receive up to £520.
Aside from the mouthwatering earnings of the full-time employees in freelancing, there have been some eventful occurrences in recent times.
One of the biggest challenges is the automation of core tasks, which is already costing translators and interpreters their jobs, leading to near 3% decline in employment in the US.
Workers aged 22 to 25 in AI-exposed occupations (e.g., customer support and software development) have experienced a 13% employment decline following the widespread adoption of Generative AI tools.
However, this doesn’t appear to be the case for experienced workers in the same field, suggesting the recognition of complex problem-solving skills and human judgment.
Freelance platforms and marketplaces
About 30% of the Fortune 500 firms search for talent in the freelance landscape through platforms. Notably, the freelance platform market has contributed to the rapid growth recorded within this workforce.
Popular platforms that help traditional employment workers pivot to this new world include Upwork, Field Nation, Fiverr, and OneSpace.
Upwork reportedly raked in up to $618 million in annual revenue in 2022, representing a 23% increase from the previous year, making it one of the largest freelance marketplaces in the world.
Also, a 14% YoY increase in transactions flowing through this platform was confirmed by the $1.027 billion Gross Services Volume within a single quarter.
Another amazing platform is Fiverr, with over 3 million active sellers connected with clients from across 160 countries. This website also holds a large global traffic, with about 50 million estimated monthly visitors.
Considering that freelance payments only cover the work done or hours spent, many businesses are finding independent contractors to be a cost-effective option.
In fact, Google had around 120,000 freelancers at one point, which was higher than the number of permanent employees recorded on its payroll. This advancing change highlights the future of staffing in the corporate world.
Market trends suggest that freelancers prefer short, fast-paced engagements, with an average contract length of 23 business days.
This contract length is quite high for Data professionals, with an average of 54 business days, making them the longest-averaged contract length workers.
Work-life balance in freelancing
Many people are pivoting towards self-employment because they believe it will help them strike a balance between their work and personal life.
This has been proven true, with statistics showing that only 4% of freelancers work on more than 10 projects simultaneously. Also, about 7% of millennials who engage in remote work choose this path to set their own work schedule.
For long-term commitments, 84% of full-time freelancers have reported being satisfied with their current position, with a significant number stating that their quality of life has improved.
With such strong satisfaction, most independent contractors remain motivated to improve their skills. Thus, many specialized freelancers pursue intellectual endeavors, with some seeking a postgraduate degree.
These, however, do not imply that freelance professionals work less. In fact, full-time independent contractors report working an average of 43 hours per week (slightly higher than the traditional workweek).
Additionally, these professionals consistently put in effort, with 54% of freelancers working five days a week.
Conclusion
Overall, the trajectory of freelancing has moved beyond the temporary phase and is now becoming a permanent fixture in global economic infrastructures.
Statistics and predictions confirm a significant growth spurt in the coming years, driven by increasingly educated and skilled professionals.
More businesses will venture into scouting for global talents with expertise in AI, finance, and programming across freelance platforms. Thus, seasoned professionals in this field are expected to bid premium rates, superseding the traditional salary brackets.