The freelance economy is on the rise, and this is mostly because business owners are starting to realise that freelancers can offer what they need at a more cost-effective rate. Also, they don’t have to worry about providing office space and other benefits that come with hiring full-time employees.
The growth of the freelancing economy can be seen by the number of people in the US doing freelance work has increased by about 27% since 2014, and that upward trend doesn’t seem to be slowing down”. As per the study by Intuit, “By 2027, 53% of the workforce will be freelancing”.
We have witnessed the demand for freelancers in the market and as a freelancer, you need to be on top of the up-and-coming skills in demand so you can stay relevant.
Below are the top in-demand Freelancing skills making the curve upward in 2022?
Data analytics skills
Demand for data analytics skills is largely driven by the growth of cloud computing and its ability to store massive amounts of data at a low cost. What’s more? As software-as-a-service becomes more widely adopted, businesses have access to increasingly sophisticated tools that can analyse this data faster than ever before.
Data analysts play an important role in helping companies make better business decisions. According to research from Burning Glass, the demand for data analysts increased by 15% over the next five years. (relate)
VR (virtual reality) skills
The increasing popularity of Virtual Reality (VR) is not just due to the sheer number of games and apps that are being developed for it. The technology is also becoming more accessible for people, with more devices being made available in the market.
The demand for VR specialists is also increasing since businesses can now see a lot of potential in this technology.
Virtual reality developers create and test VR and AR games, experiences, and applications. They also design new graphics and audio capabilities for these virtual worlds.
It’s a great time to get into VR because developers are still figuring out how to optimise virtual reality experiences, so there’s plenty of room for experimentation and new approaches. Virtual reality developers have a lot of creative freedom right now to explore different ways of understanding what works best in VR.
According to Burning Glass, over the last two years there has been a 6,000% increase in listings for jobs in virtual reality.
Digital marketing
According to a report by The World Economic Forum, “the Fourth Industrial Revolution will bring with it a blurring of lines between physical, biological and digital spheres”. This means that more and more companies will be shifting their focus towards online.
Businesses have finally realised the importance of online presence, and therefore they are looking for potential digital experts to help them. You can take advantage of this high demand and offer your services as a digital marketer to help businesses grow. There is so much that a business can do in the digital space, and if you’re skilled enough, you can help with anything from creating a personalised digital marketing strategy to execution.
Blockchain
Blockchain has a great potential to become one of the most popular freelance skills in the near future. It’s already being used by many companies across different industries, and there are no signs of stopping this trend. As more businesses start using the blockchain system, they will need people with relevant experience who will know how to use it effectively.
Blockchain technology is expected to grow by more than 20% in 2022 when its value will be around $2.3 billion. The sectors that use this technology the most are finance, banking, and insurance.
However, there are many technical hurdles that must be overcome before companies can harness blockchain’s true potential. That’s where blockchain freelancers come in. They can help companies set up blockchain initiatives and overcome their challenges by offering advice, expertise and support.
Content Marketing
Content marketing has been around for a long time but is continuing to increase in popularity as more companies realise how important it is for their brand’s success.
Content marketing is essential because it helps you build trust with your audience, increases your brand awareness, generates leads, and grows your business through organic search traffic.
Content marketing is the creation and promotion of content that is valuable to your target audience. This can include blog posts, ebooks, videos, podcasts, and more — anything that is useful to people who might be interested in your product or service.
People don’t like being sold to, but they like learning new things and getting information that can help them do their job better or live a better life. Content marketing allows you to provide that kind of value without being pushy or sales-y.
Content marketing involves creating content such as blog posts, videos, social media posts, etc., that will help promote your business, products, and services and drive traffic back to your website.
This marketing strategy differs from traditional marketing because it emphasises online distribution and conversation with the audience rather than creating ads.
Mobile Application Skills
With the increase in e-commerce activity, many companies are investing in web development services to keep up with consumer demands and stay competitive in their industries. Companies also want to maintain their websites to ensure they’re as user-friendly as possible. Many companies also need web development services because they have outdated websites or they want to make sure they’re on top of current technology trends that could benefit them.
Mobile app developers are well equipped to handle the entire process from beginning to end. They understand how to work with companies and how to develop high-quality apps that their customers will love and trust. Many of these developers also have experience working with startups and small businesses, which can make them well-suited for creating applications that fit into tight budgets and quick timelines.
As your clients lay down their expectations, you could be left wondering about how to develop the app that must meet up the requirements of your client. These days, there are plenty of tools in the market to make it easy for you to develop an app on your own. You can use tools like Appy Pie, and others to create apps for iOS and Android devices with great ease and speed.
Wrapping-up
You’ve seen the numbers. You know what skills are in demand today, and you’ve got a good idea of what’s on the horizon. Based on the results, it’s not surprising to see many data-driven skills at the top of the list. Freelance work has boomed and will continue to be a major factor in the future of work. As such, freelancers need to have skills that allow them to effectively collaborate with others, no matter where they are in the world.
Based on these results and more, one thing is clear: The talent landscape is evolving rapidly and what was valuable yesterday might not be as valuable tomorrow. Flexibility will be key for talent looking to stay competitive in the future job market. As you plan your own freelance career, keep an eye on trends like these and make sure you’re always developing new skills that will help you adapt and keep your value high.
