FlexJobs has reported the top freelance career fields and the top 30 companies hiring this workforce so far in 2018.
While freelancers aren’t eligible for benefits, they have more flexibility and freedom than traditional employees. This may explain why a FlexJobs survey showed freelancers working remotely or from home are generally happier than more traditional employees. In the US, the total number of workers freelancing has risen to 35 percent.
Small businesses are the fastest growing segment of organizations using remote workers and freelancers. As freelancers are also technically identified as small businesses, these two groups are changing the labor market and how talent is acquired.
Sara Sutton Fell, Founder and CEO of FlexJobs, explained how this work model has changed the workforce in the past decade. In a press release, she explains, “The demographics of freelancers are just as varied, spanning generations, educational backgrounds and career levels, but they share an important commonality, which is that they freelance because they value work-life balance and flexible work arrangements can help them achieve it.”
Top Careers and Jobs
The top five careers were in computer and IT, accounting and finance, HR and recruiting, editing, and administrative. Freelance jobs such as data analyst, receptionist, project manager, bookkeeper, content designer, QA specialist, chemist, proposal writer, and HR specialist were posted on FlexJobs matching those careers.
The 10 Top Freelance Fields
The top 10 freelance jobs in the U.S. at present include:
- Computer & IT
- Accounting & Finance
- HR & Recruiting
- Editing, Proofreading, and Writing
- Administrative
- Project Management
- Data Entry
- Research Analysis
- Software Development
- Technical Support
The Companies
The list of companies hiring freelancers shows there is no one specific industry. Companies across all segments are using the pool of workers who identify themselves as freelancers.
The Top 30 Companies Hiring for Freelance Jobs in 2018 So Far
Freelancers seeing work may want to pursue it with one of these 30 companies already known for offering these opportunities:
- Kelly Services
- Real Staffing
- Kforce
- Accounting Principals
- Randstad
- Ajilon
- Dahl Consulting
- Computer Futures
- Onward Search
- Robert Half International
- Creative Group
- Aerotek
- TEKsystems
- Adecco
- VocoVision
- WinterWyman
- AFIRM
- EXL
- 24 Seven
- Apex Systems
- Judge Group
- excelHR
- ics – Infinity Consulting Solutions
- Paladin
- Horizontal Integration
- Procom Services
- i. Systems
- K12
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Looking for a Job?
If you are a freelancer, FlexJobs makes the following five recommendations to land your next job.
- Figure out your freelance niche.
- Set up a solid freelance foundation.
- Consider your network.
- Reach out to old employers.
- Drum up new business, because as a freelancer, you are your own business.
FlexJobs has a good vantage point of the trends taking place with remote jobs. The company offers an online platform for job seekers and companies featuring freelance work opportunities in more than 50 categories. The 2018 top 100 list, as well as this roundup, was whittled down from the more than 49,000 organizations who posted the highest number of freelance job openings on FlexJobs for the year.
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