As the freelance revolution continues to gather steam, the attitudes and preferences of the next generation of successful freelancers is surely a topic of interest. While there is no singular source of insight, we can certainly draw some inferences from the surveys of various talent platforms like Upwork, Toptal, and Flexing It, and from the emerging research on Gen Z’s. So, based on many sources, here are some best guesses about the coming generation of top freelancers: who they are, what they are like, how they see their role, work, client relationships, and their career. Who they are Next generation freelancers will incorporate a far wider range of professions . Freelance airline pilots. Freelance cultural anthropologists. Freelance emergency room physicians. Freelance emergency musicians. Freelance designers. Even freelance baby nurses. They are generally younger, and started freelancing earlier in their career. As many as half will be under 30. But, the next generation of freelancers will also be generationally “lumpy”, with more and more experienced professionals choosing to freelance at mid-career or later. More of the globe will welcome freelancers and more governments – for example, the Nordics – are adapting tax and pension rules to facilitate freelance careers. Next generation freelancers will increasingly hail from or be resident in Africa, Asia and Latin America . They are more diverse in terms of educational background , and less convinced of the singular virtue of a university education. Women will join the freelancer revolution in growing numbers; however, pay inequity will continue to unfairly penalize women freelancers until freelance platforms take greater responsibility to ensure equal treatment. What are they like They are more worldly. Freelancers are part of a worldwide community. Online talent platforms provide the chance to work and interact with colleagues from all over the world. One data point: 65% of Asian freelancers have gigged for North American companies . They are more ethnic, racial, gender and religiously diverse , place strong value on diversity, are more politically aware, generally more liberal, and more demanding that organizations “do no evil.” They are more willing to pick up and move to other locations on a temporary, adventurous, fact finding, or permanent basis. While almost 5 million people describe themselves as digital nomads, the population is expected to increase as organizations adapt and technology access continues to improve. How they think about career The next generation of freelancers will simply know freelancing as an attractive, legitimate, career path . People will no longer assume that freelancers are less talented, or in between jobs. They will find it stranger and stranger to think that professionals must choose between a freelance and corporate path , and see it as natural to move between freelance and fulltime roles several times over the course of their career. But more successful freelancers will be increasingly picky about what clients to work for, not only from a compensation perspective but also the quality of the organization, the assignment, and how they are managed. The line between […]
