The survey involves 500 business owners and 1000 freelancers

Over half of freelancers expect their earnings to increase in 2021. Source: pexels.com

PeoplePerHour has found that 65% of freelancers expect their earnings to increase in 2021 and 40% felt the climate was right to increase their rates.

According to data, 2020 was already abundant with opportunities with nearly half of business owners saying they had increased their use of freelancers this year. That trend is set to continue with 60% responding that they plan to use freelancers more in 2021.

At 67%, the most popular reason for using freelancers was to introduce skills the business didn’t have in-house. Meanwhile, 42% took advantage of flexible talent to speed up projects. Only a third said the reason they had used freelancers was to save money. 28% said they’d turned to freelancers to help move their business online, perhaps as a response to COVID.

However, despite the pandemic pushing 1 in 6 people out of work and into freelancing it was by no means the primary reason for choosing to make the switch in 2020. Indeed, 48% started freelancing to become their own boss, while 43% said they wanted to gain more flexibility in their work-life.

We’ve reported that companies are now 3 times more willing to hire remote workers from anywhere in the US or the world.

SEE ALSO:

• Top 5 freelance payment methods
• Top 5 freelance platforms worldwide: where to look for clients
• The handy guide to budgeting for freelancers