Universal Images Group via Getty Images The freelance market is heating up. During the first quarter of 2021, the Freelancer.com platform posted over a half million jobs. And during the same period, FlexJobs.com reported a 10%+ jump in postings for freelancers in a variety of career categories. It’s a trend that’s unlikely to cool anytime soon and suggests a number of work opportunities for people over 50. “Companies worry that the economy won’t remain strong enough to add permanent positions,” says Kathy Kristof, founder of SideHusl.com. “But the freelance market gives companies the ability to enlist niche experts to solve relatively infrequent problems on demand.” So, if you’re thinking about freelancing to generate income until the job market stabilizes or to pick up some extra money in retirement, now’s a good time to test the market. You’ll be in good company. According to a Center for Retirement Research at Boston College study cited by National Council on Aging President and CEO Ramsey Alwin at an April 29 Senate Special Committee on Aging hearing on older workers, 75% of self-employed workers 50 and older work independently in jobs like freelancer and gig worker. Here are five freelance options to consider, culled from recent surveys by Freelancer.com and FlexJobs.com, along with input from SideHusl.com. All three sites are a good place to start looking for freelance gigs, but you can also find opportunities by reaching out to your professional and personal networks. 1. Content Producer There are now about 400 million active websites worldwide, almost double the number in 2019, according to the Hosting Tribunal. In turn, that’s driving demand for people who can write compelling content. Freelancer.com reports that during the first quarter of 2021, postings for blog writers, medical writers and assistance with book writing were all up. Unfortunately, as anyone who has tried to make a go of it as a freelance writer knows (myself included), finding good paying content-producing gigs can be a tall order. “The key with writing jobs is to have a specialty that you become uniquely qualified for,” advises Kristof. “When you have true expertise in an area, you can write more quickly and authoritatively, reach key sources and can target publications that will value your work.” The pay range for these writing jobs varies widely. Kristof says most gig-writing sites are content mills that want people to write for literally pennies (or fractions of pennies) per word. But there are also plenty of sites that pay between 25 cents and $2 per word, depending on the topic and complexity. SideHusl.com has an informative post on the myriad of rated writing options. 2. Bilingual Services In a business world that’s increasingly global, the need for people with bilingual skills who can translate, transcribe and produce content is stronger than ever. Freelancer.com reports that postings for German, French and Spanish translators rose during the first quarter of the year (by 44%, 24% and 18% respectively). And the number of remote bilingual jobs on FlexJobs has […]
