Tide, the UK’s leading business management platform, has released its new Global Freelancer Report, revealing the most sought after freelance roles, as well as those growing in demand.
The report analysed more than six million global Google searches for freelance professions, ranging from accountants to ghost writers, to pinpoint which are being searched for the most and beyond that, the roles that are experiencing the sharpest increase in demand.
With video content having become increasingly important across social media platforms such as YouTube, the report reveals that it’s a fruitful time to be a freelance filmmaker, with the role ranking as the most in-demand globally, as it amasses more than 280,000 searches annually.
The data also reveals that while AI platforms such as ChatGPT and Google Gemini have made image and content creation easy for anyone, freelance graphic designers and copywriters are still in demand.
While freelance filmmakers are the most in-demand globally, Tide’s report also breaks the data down country-by-country, to reveal the freelance opportunity on a national level.
In the United Kingdom, Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) specialists, who help businesses gain more visibility on the likes of Google are the most sought-after freelancers when looking at total UK searches. However, when breaking that down further, graphic designers are seeing huge demand in England and Northern Ireland, while freelance photographers dominate searches in Wales. In Scotland, the data shows it’s fruitful to be a freelance copywriter.
Elsewhere, freelance programmers are a top priority in the United States and finance is evidently front of mind in a host of countries. Tax consultants are experiencing high demand in Germany, while Denmark, Croatia and many more have freelance bookkeepers at the top of their wish lists.
With technology and the demands of corporations growing and changing quickly, the research also analysed the freelance professions are seeing an increase in interest year-on-year.
There are potentially lucrative opportunities in the digital space, with web analytics, SEO, programming and WordPress development all growing in demand. Meanwhile, the data also reveals lesser-known freelance opportunities that are becoming more prominent. This includes freelancers with a skill for designing ‘thumbnails’ for platforms like YouTube (+35% YOY) and branding specialists, which have seen 25% growth in demand over the last year.
As the report reveals strong demand across various sectors and an approaching new year potentially giving people the nudge they need to take the leap and go freelance, Tide spoke to some of its freelance members for their tips for anyone entering the world of freelancing.
Oreoluwa Peter Famosa, a Freelance Filmmaker, Director and Co-Founder of SCARYTOWN LTD, says that he has “been a freelancer since I was in my teens” with a “freelancing journey that began with assisting my Dad at weddings”.
Oreoluwa has since created music videos and artwork for the likes of Rizzle Kicks, Rema and Ayra Starr, and says that “freelancing has truly opened up the doors to seeing more of the world and connecting with great individuals within wonderful communities. It’s a wholesome journey I’d encourage everyone to take at some point”.
Outside of Peter’s three-word advice to “just do it” and take the leap, his key tips for any budding freelancer are:
- Structure: Form a structure to your work by asking yourself questions like “What do I do? How do I do it? Why do I do it? How does it work?”
- Punctuality: “Always submit things in time. Lateness is not greatness.”
- Discipline: When you’re your own boss, this is key. According to Peter, “discipline is the most unstoppable force known to the human mind.”
George Schmidt, UK/Europe CEO at Tide, said: “Going freelance can be an exciting and natural next step for many people that have worked in an industry for an extended period of time. You can choose your clients, how you work and have the flexibility to fit it around your life.
“From a business perspective, freelancers can be a cost-effective solution for one-off or short-term projects, offering the agility and expertise companies need without the overheads of a permanent hire or larger agency.”
“Either way, we’re here to champion and support freelancers, and the businesses commissioning them, with everything from company registration and formation, to banking and sending invoices”.
