Most freelance engagements start the same way: there’s a gap, a deadline, and a quick search for someone who can help. But what if that approach is exactly the problem? In this episode, we’re joined by Matthew Knight, an award-winning independent strategist and Chief Freelance Officer at The Independency Co., and we unpack why reactive hiring...
For decades, growth meant hiring more full-time employees and expanding internal departments. But in today’s fast-moving markets, many organisations are realising that traditional hiring alone can slow them down. In a recent conversation with industry expert Katherine Steiner-Dicks on The Independent Workforce podcast, we explored how companies...
For decades, companies have defaulted to one solution for almost every business challenge: hire someone full-time. New market expansion? Hire.Digital transformation? Hire.System implementation? Hire. But what if the issue isn’t a lack of talent — it’s the hiring model itself? In this episode of The Independent Workforce, Jamie Jacobs, at Gig...
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 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...
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...
In today’s rapidly shifting world of work, flexibility isn’t a trend — it’s survival. But while many companies fear the idea of working with freelancers, contractors, or fractional experts, others are building entire engines of innovation powered by independent talent. One of the pioneers of this new operating system is Nuri Demirci...
The world of work is shifting faster than most organisations can keep up with. Independent experts are stepping into critical roles across industries. And while tech dominates the conversation, the freelance revolution is happening everywhere: engineering, rail, manufacturing, logistics, and more. To dive deeper into how...
When you hear “NASA,” you probably think rockets, astronauts, and high-stakes missions in space. You don’t immediately think freelancers. But after almost 36 years at NASA and over a decade leading open innovation and open talent initiatives, Steve Rader has a very clear message for leaders and organisations: “If your only talent strategy is...
Freelancers have always been part of the workforce — but what’s happening now is different. We are entering a new era shaped by agility, global talent, AI, and the ability for individuals to build careers outside traditional employment. In this evolving landscape, few voices are as influential as Matthew Dowling, Founder of Freelancer Club, leader...