Freelancing is evolving fast. Between 2023 and 2025, the overall freelance market slowed by over 20%, but demand for specialised roles soared, with some categories growing by more than 270%. In 2026, freelancers with the right skills can still secure high-paying, future-proof projects — if they know where to look. Companies increasingly hire...
The Truth About Freelancers Inside Big Corporations – Episode 20 With Tony Buffum
For decades, large organizations believed that competitive advantage came from owning talent. But in today’s fast-moving markets, that assumption is quietly breaking down. In Episode 20 of The Independent Workforce, we spoke with Tony Buffum – Head of Enterprise Strategy at Human Cloud – about what’s really happening behind the scenes inside big...
How Freelancers Help Startups Raise Money Faster – Episode 19 With Nir Melamud
Startups don’t fail because they lack ideas. They fail because they hire too slowly or hire the wrong way. In a recent episode of The Independent Workforce podcast with Nir Melamud – Head of Partnerships and Investments at ThinkUp, Managing Partner at Tech Investor Club, Founder of FreshStart – we explored how freelancers are no longer just “extra...
Why Freelancers Are Already 40% Of Your Workforce – Episode 18 with Jack Spencer
The way we work has changed – quietly, steadily, and now irreversibly. In this episode of The Independent Workforce, we sit down with flexible workforce specialist Jack Spencer, – founder of Freeflexer and co-founder of Club Redundo – to unpack what’s really holding companies back from working successfully with freelancers. From missing ownership...
Why Enterprises Struggle with Freelancers – Episode 17 with Rich Wilson
What’s really stopping enterprises from working with freelancers? Is it trust, process, or simply… vocabulary? In a recent episode of The Independent Workforce, we sat down with Rich Wilson, CEO and Co-Founder of Gigged.AI, to talk about the past, present, and future of freelance collaboration — especially inside enterprise environments...
7 Rules to Follow to Work With Elite Freelancers – Episode 16 with Robert Vlach
What happens when someone spends over two decades living, breathing, and shaping the freelance economy, long before it became cool? In this episode of The Independent Workforce, we sat down with Robert Vlach, freelancing entrepreneur, consultant to top professionals, author of The Freelance Way, and founder of two of the largest freelance...
From Title to Tasks: The Future of Hiring – Episode 15 with John Winsor
There’s a moment in some conversations where everything gets uncomfortably simple. Not simplistic. Not motivational-poster simple. But truth simple. That happened when John looked at the future of work—freelancers, contractors, fractional experts, AI, remote collaboration—and framed it in a way that left no room for corporate denial: “If companies...
Freelancers Trends in 2026: What’s changing?
2026 is shaping up to be a transformative year for freelancers and self-employed professionals. With technological breakthroughs, regulatory shifts, and evolving client expectations, the freelance landscape is changing faster than ever. Let’s dive into what’s already happened, what changes are on the horizon, and which trends will...
The Future of Freelance Work in Czech Republic – Episode 14 with Klara Hrubá and Kristýna Pechová
The European work landscape is undergoing a fundamental shift, and the Czech Republic sits at the forefront of this transformation. In this podcast episode, we explore how the Czech freelance market has evolved from informal arrangements into a sophisticated talent ecosystem with Klara Hrubá, CEO of nemensis Czech Republic, and Kristýna Pechová...
Which industries are loosing freelance projects in 2025?
The challenging economic climate has left its mark in 2025, affecting both companies and freelancers. But which sectors are bearing the brunt? Our latest data from the Freelancer Compass 2026 reveals the three industries experiencing the most significant decline in projects in the DACH region. Key takeaways Top 3 industries losing demand...