Here are some business statistics that will give you a better understanding of your partners and contractors, including freelancers. These numbers will also let you foresee some trends for the future and adjust your business approach accordingly.

The future of workplace – business statistics

1. Companies believe in remote work and flexible team setup

64% of companies that introduced this new work model during COVID believe that it will be a permanent business landscape fixture (Digital Pulse, Coronavirus Flash Survey). The report found that the pandemic altered working conditions in an unprecedented way and influenced entrepreneurial strategies across the world.

2. One in five companies does not have an office

26% companies have 100% virtual teams  (GitLab Survey). Within these teams, each employee works within their own native time zone and takes full advantage of the remote work policy. The study was conducted in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, so the data is applicable to these high-performance markets.

3. Remote workers work more

Remote workers on average work 1.4 more days per month (or 16.8 more days per year) than in-office workers. A survey conducted on 1,004 employees by AirTasker showed that flexible work conditions accounted for greater productivity.

4. Alternative work models are specific to certain industries

Industries and company departments that are most probable to “collaborate across borders” – outsource, hire freelancers or independent contractors – include HR (63%), sales (62%), IT (57%), operations (57%), and finance (56%), according to this SHRM survey. Similar business statistics were presented the same year by Deloitte, who also pointed to IT and operations, as well as marketing and R&D as the functions where alternative labour is used. This can be a good indicator of the processes that your company can look to outsource globally.

5. United States and India are leading the way in freelancing

USA is the largest freelancing market in the world, but India runs a close second. These business statistics show that both of those countries, with their own approaches to freelancing may determine the future of business.

Employee of the future – business statistics

6. Around 46.5% of the global workforce are self-employed

This group of people who believe in “being one’s own boss” consists both from self-employed people in developing countries, but also a growing number of freelancers, digital nomads and other independent consultants who have fully realised the potential of the modern digital economy. (International Labor Organization)

7. Nearly 100,000,000 – that’s how many freelancers there may be in the United States alone in 2028

The projected number of freelancers working in the United States in 2023 is 73.3 million. By 2024, the number is expected to reach 76.4 million and in 2028 – a whopping 90.1 million people (Statista).

8. In Europe, the number of freelancers is growing almost as fast

Freelancers are the fastest-growing labour group in the European Union, with their number doubling between 2000 and 2014 (Deloitte).

9. Freelancers’ earnings vary across borders

Codementor examined the hourly rates of developers in different countries. American freelancers on average charge 70 dollars per hour, while their Eastern European counterparts charge 56 dollars per hour for the same web development services. Northern African freelancers charged the lowest among the surveyed group.

10. IT sector is growing the fastest

The most rapidly growing sector for freelancers is IT and technology, more precisely industries related to Blockchain, Bitcoin, UX Design, Software and Web Development, and Technical Support. 

11. 40% of people worldwide believe that traditional employment will no longer exist in the future

Instead, people will sell their skills under their own “brand” to those who need them (PWC). 59% of currently traditionally employed workers believe that they will likely become freelancers in the future.

Best advice from the best in business

12. Companies are filling vacancies with full-time employees

USA Today made a connection between mass layoffs across different big US companies and filling the vacancies with freelancers instead. 52% of the business leaders say at least some full-time employees will eventually move to contract roles, according to a survey from 2023. The trend is called “quiet hiring”.

13. Example of Dell shows what advantages are associated with teleworking

Dell Technologies have been famous for their “telecommuting” approach to working long before the 2020 pandemic. In one of their documents they shared that they saved over $1,000,000 in fuel costs, avoided 136 million miles of travel as well as over 35,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year. As you can see, remote work is a great way to optimize company costs. 

14. Google knows the power of freelancers

Last but not least – 54% of Google’s employees are actually freelancers and independent contractors – according to this data. If the tech giant sees the clear benefits of working with them, why can’t you?

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