With many kids learning from home during the pandemic, parents are increasingly looking for more flexible jobs that makes it easier for them to look after their children. In fact, according to recent reports, 36 percent of the American workforce has been freelancing during the pandemic, an increase of two million freelancers since 2019. Annual freelance earnings also increased by 22 percent this year, topping $1.2 trillion. To help connect freelancers to job opportunities in 2021, job site FlexJobs has identified the top fifteen categories with the most freelance job listings since the pandemic in March.
“Over the last several months, we’ve seen sustained growth in the number of freelance job postings in the FlexJobs database,” said Sara Sutton, Founder and CEO at FlexJobs. “Freelance workers can help tremendously during times when companies’ operating budgets may be impacted and future revenue seems uncertain. As everyone broadens their views of the workplace, we predict that freelance job opportunities will continue to be available and grow well into 2021,” Sutton added.
These career categories had the most freelance job postings since March 1, 2020 and are also considered strong bets for 2021:
- Computer & IT
- Accounting & Finance
- Administrative
- Project Management
- Customer Service
- Healthcare
- Writing & Editing
- Education & Training
- Marketing
- HR & Recruiting
- Bookkeeping
- Therapy
- Graphic Design
- Data Entry
- Mortgage & Real Estate
Below are 15 common freelance side jobs for those considering making the shift to freelancing, along with the average hourly wage from Payscale:
- Bookkeeper: $17/hr
- Curriculum Writer: $27/hr
- Copy Editor: $19/hr
- Customer Service Representative: $14/hr
- Editor: $20/hr
- Executive Assistant: $21/hr
- Graphic Designer: $17/hr
- Lead Generation Specialist: $14/hr
- Online ESL Teacher: $20/hr
- Project Manager: $26/hr
- Proofreader: $18/hr
- Resume Writer: $20/hr
- Social Media Manager: $16/hr
- Virtual Assistant: $16/hr
- Writer: $20/hr
Happy mom-friendly job hunting!