The landscape for workers has undergone tremendous shifts in recent years. Thanks in large part to technological advancements, we have seen a rise in start-ups. These types of companies have greatly impacted what workers can expect and demand from their employees. The trends they have instigated or stimulated have had repercussions that can be felt throughout the labor market, including with mid-sized companies and big multinationals.
Technological advancements have also had a tremendous impact on consumer behavior and expectations. With more and more of the market either shifting to digital or relying heavily on digital media to thrive, it is no surprise that the freelance jobs that saw the largest increase in 2022 are all related to technology and the online environment.
In this short article, we will take a look at the most in-demand freelance jobs in 2022, the background required to land a job in that sector, projections for growth, and freelancing trends in 2023.
Top in-demand freelance jobs:
#1 Android App Developer
The most in-demand freelance job for 2022 was, by far, an Android app developer. From the second quarter of 2022 to the third alone, android app development jobs increased by nearly 80%. This increase was largely dictated by consumer preferences as smartphone users worldwide downloaded nearly 40 billion apps (in the third quarter alone!) compared to just under 9 billion for iPhone users.
The background of a freelance android app developer
Android app development has gained such a large share of the market thanks to the relative ease and cost-effectiveness when developing an app for smartphones (as opposed to the more complicated iPhone route).
There are two major programming languages used by Android app developers: Java and Kotlin. Kotlin is widely regarded as the easier of the two. But the two languages are similar, and transitioning from one to the other should not present serious difficulties.
There are many Android application training courses available online, and they can be completed within a matter of months. After completing a training course, finding an Android application development job should be relatively easy as the demand far outnumbers the supply.
Projections for Android developer jobs in 2023 and beyond
There are no signs to suggest the need for Android app developers should slow down in 2023. Beyond 2023, it is far more difficult to predict. As is the case with all technology-driven sectors, the landscape could change radically with the emergence of new technology.
However, it is almost a given that whatever the next trend in app development will be, it will be based on languages, codes, and processes used by Android app developers. Therefore, the freelance with experience developing apps for the Android platform will most likely be ideally situated to take advantage of the next trend in app development that comes along.
#2 SEO Copywriter
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) has gained in popularity in recent years as having a strong online presence has become indispensable for businesses across all sectors of activity. The job of an SEO professional consists of creating content (mostly written content: articles, blog posts, social media posts, etc.) that contains characteristics that make the content attractive to search engines.
SEO jobs are almost always done by freelancers that work either independently or with an agency. It’s worth it to weigh the pros and cons of working with an agency and choosing the option which best meets your needs.
Which is the background of a freelance SEO professional?
SEO professionals have a background in either writing (journalism, blogging, creative writing) or online marketing, sometimes both. SEO content creation is one of the easiest fields to break into as there are no university degrees required and the training can be accomplished in a relatively short amount of time.
A great place to learn the basic (and even the more advanced) skills of SEO content creation is the tools (software programs and platforms) these professionals rely on in their job. These tools always offer free training courses for their products. And someone motivated to learn and acquire the necessary skills to become an SEO professional can do so within a matter of months.
Check out the Surfer Academy for online training in SEO content creation, as well as Ahrefs Academy. Both of these tools represent the industry standard for SEO content creation. After completing a training course, you should be ready to start bidding for freelance SEO content creation work. You could also find a more stable SEO jobs on job boards like Lensa, or within a single company or agency.
Demand for SEO experts in 2023 and beyond
There are no signs that the need for SEO professionals should slow down in 2023. However, this field is heavily reliant on search engine algorithms. If Google, or another popular search engine, were to drastically change how they find and rank search results, this would have an immediate and drastic impact on the SEO industry.
Search engines make regular adjustments to their algorithms, but as of yet, no adjustment has been significant enough to negatively impact the SEO industry. However, it is worth bearing in mind that this entire industry is, to a large extent, at the whim of Google and how they go about finding and ranking content to respond to user queries. Therefore, it would be unwise to make long-term projections as to the viability of this field.
On the other hand, someone with experience in SEO content creation can easily shift to other forms of writing and marketing work. So, while it is hard to foresee long-term growth in this field, the skills needed to carry out the job of a freelance SEO content creator are easily transferable to other jobs that are sure to have staying power.
The freelance jobs with the largest increase in 2022 are all related to technology and the online environment.
#3 Digital Marketing Manager
A report of Insider Intelligence estimated that global spending on digital advertising exceeded 440 billion dollars in 2022, with nearly $200 billion in the US alone (that’s billion with a ‘b’). That’s a 13% growth compared to 2021!
Unsurprisingly, companies are hiring more and more professionals to help them get the most bang for their buck. In fact, the demand for digital marketing professionals is so high that, in the US, the number of unfilled marketing positions in 2022 is reported to have exceeded 200,000, hence why so many companies turned to freelancers to meet their digital marketing needs.
Role of a freelance digital marketing manager
Compared to more traditional forms of marketing, digital marketing is relatively new. The role, responsibilities, and desired expertise of a digital marketing manager are still in the process of being defined. However, as we enter 2023, digital marketing managers are expected to have the following skills, at a minimum:
- Strong analytical skills – the ability to comb through data and extrapolate from them actionable responses
- Experience using social media – identifying influencers relevant to a given brand or company, creating appealing content, and engaging with users
- SEO – identifying keywords to target and developing strategies for link building
- SEM (search engine marketing – similar to SEO but more focused on paid content and defining a budget relative to ROI
- Copywriting – while much of the copywriting is delegated to copywriting experts, the digital marketing manager is expected to write specific briefs for the copywriter as well as find the appropriate websites to target, identify the keywords and their chains, and potentially edit or revise submitted content
- Video editing – the digital marketing manager is still expected to understand the basics of video editing, including frame rate and file compatibility for various platforms
- Image editing – including creating thumbnails, and the more experienced digital marketing manager will know how to create infographics
Digital marketing managers rely on a team of professionals as well as outsourcing specific responsibilities. Therefore, in addition to the technical skills a digital marketing manager is expected to have, he or she should also be a good communicator, highly organized, and able to schedule and oversee a variety of tasks simultaneously.
Will Digital Marketing Managers be still in high demand in 2023 and beyond?
While there are no signs to suggest that the demand for digital marketing professionals should decrease anytime soon (quite the contrary), it is worth noting that more and more companies are seeking to meet their digital marketing needs with salaried employees as opposed to freelancers.
The rise of digital marketing freelancers in 2022 was mostly due to companies’ inability to fill open positions with a more long-term solution. As supply slowly catches up with demand, it is safe to assume that the majority of digital marketing jobs will go to salaried employees while freelancers will carry out more specialized tasks.
#4 Web Designer
The popular freelance job search platform Upwork names web designer as the second most requested service on their site (behind SEO copywriting). The job of a web designer combines coding, technical know-how, and creative/artistic expression to create and/or update websites for brands, companies, and individuals.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported over 200,000 hires for web designers in 2022. However, this figure represents salaried employees rather than freelancers. The number of freelance jobs is estimated to have far exceeded that amount.
The rise in popularity of mobile devices and the subsequent need to create or update websites to accommodate them contributed to the increase in demand for web designers in 2022. Additionally, the expectations of internet users continue to change and mature, which means that websites are continuously in need of updates.
The increase in accessibility (and, consequently, in popularity) of eCommerce platforms has also been a significant cause for the high demand for freelance web designers. Additionally, social groups, charities, influencers, and even other freelance professionals all share a need for an appealing and user-friendly website.
The background of a freelance web designer
Web designers are proficient in at least one programming language, such as Python, JavaScript, or SQL. They have a keen eye for digital aesthetics and the architecture of a website which includes navigability and UX (user experience).
Web designers will often specialize in either front-end or back-end website design, and in addition to coding skills, they generally also have experience in graphic design, software development, UX, information architecture, and AJAX (asynchronous JavaScript and XML).
Trends in website design constantly change as technology and user expectations evolve. Therefore, a good web designer stays up to date on the latest trends in digital aesthetics and UX. Additionally, as is the case with all freelance jobs, finding your niche is a good way to stand out from the crowd and justify higher rates.
A successful freelance web designer has a portfolio of websites he or she has developed. And due to the ever-shifting changes in user expectations, their portfolio is constantly being updated to keep up with trends.
Which are the projections for web designers in the next years?
In recent years, we have seen significant advancements in web design technology, notably with block (or module) design. For the professional freelance web designer, this is a two-edged sword. On the one hand, these advancements make designing a website easier and thus more accessible to the non-expert. Logically, this should reduce the demand for professional web designers. However, in fact, it has led to an increase in the popularity of personalized websites, which has further contributed to the demand for skilled professionals.
It is worth keeping an eye on these technological advancements. It is quite possible that in a few short years, creating or updating a website could become so easy that the need for skilled professionals could decrease significantly. This phenomenon has already led to many web designers either specializing in more complex designs or shifting entirely to UX design.
User experience is taking on a higher and higher priority for both users and employers alike. This allows web designers with a specialization in UX to demand higher compensation. In fact, UX designers make, on average, 20% more than standard web designers.
For 2023 and 2024, web designers will continue to be in high demand. However, as technological advancements continue to make web design more accessible to the non-professional, it is difficult to project beyond 2024 in terms of the need for freelance web designers.
#5 Data Analyst
The ability to comb through millions of data points, interpret them then present them as a coherent narrative to solve problems, guard against potential risks, or increase productivity is not a skill that most people possess. This is where the freelance data analyst comes in.
As data analytics is a relatively new field, the staggering statistics expressing the growth of this industry in recent years can be somewhat misleading. An amalgamation of various industry surveys suggests there was nearly a 30% increase in the amount of money companies spent on data analytics in 2022 compared to 2021. While that may be true, expecting that rate of growth to continue is not realistic. However, it is undeniable that data analysts were in high demand. And given that data analysts are frequently brought in to solve specific punctual problems, they are ideal professionals to work in a freelance capacity.
The background of a freelance data analyst
The vast majority of freelance data analysts have a background in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) either from a university or a specialized training program. A freelance data analyst also has strong critical thinking skills and strong communication skills (both written and oral).
The successful freelance data analyst is well versed in marketing and sales parlance, as they often need to communicate problems and solutions to professionals in these fields. They are often good storytellers, too, since they need to condense complex problems and solutions into easily understood soundbites for their clients.
On a technical front, data analysts are expected to know at least one of the more popular data processing languages, such as Excel, Tableau, or SQL.
Projections for 2023 and beyond
While the need for data analytics shows no signs of slowing down, the freelance professional’s biggest competition is AI (Artificial Intelligence). As AI technology becomes more and more accessible, effective, and reliable, this could significantly curb the need for freelance data analysts.
However, the skills a data analyst possesses are not likely to go out of fashion anytime soon, mainly those of creative problem-solving and communication.
Conclusion
More and more companies are looking to freelancers to fill their many open positions. This gives the company more flexibility in a fast-changing business and labor market. Outsourcing tasks to freelancers is projected to remain a growing workplace trend to watch out for in 2023.
In 2022, the most in-demand freelance jobs where those driven by technology and a shift toward an online presence. That is likely to hold true for 2023. But it is important to keep an eye on the trends and continuously level up your skills to make sure you stay ahead of the curve (there always seems to be a curve up ahead in today’s fast-changing labor market).
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