The future is freelance! As more businesses turn to contract and freelance workers, the face of the traditional employee is changing.
We speculate on the freelancers of the future…
The world is more interconnected than ever, and the world of work is changing because of it. Technology has made remote working possible from anywhere, flexibility is king, and freelancers are becoming the face of the workforce.
What will the freelancers of the future be doing, and where will they be? We make some educated guesses…
Nearly every sector will benefit
At present, freelancers are often assumed to be working on smaller projects for creative industries, or those operating in the digital space. However, many companies across various sectors are now relying on the assistance of freelancers to work on significant projects. Tech companies, medical businesses, tourism organisations and more are realising that using freelancers makes more sense than maintaining an expensive office.
Location won’t matter
With around 34% of the current US workforce being remote, it stands to reason that the rest of the world will follow suit to even greater degrees. As further-flung countries get ever-faster internet speeds, the home of freelancers could very well be half a world away from their employer.
Payment types will change
At present, most employees – remote or otherwise – are paid through traditional fiat currency. However, as the digital nomad workforce spreads across the world, payments may well take different forms of currency. Bitcoin and other blockchain-based cryptocurrencies may become more common to overcome conversion fees and other costs associated with the transfer of money.
Better benefits
As freelancing becomes more common, the current lack of benefits will become a thing of the past. At present, freelancers are often expected to cover their own benefits, such as sick pay and administrative fees. However, as more companies rely on a remote workforce to complete work, the offering of better benefits may well become the way to encourage people to take roles that are remote.
Legislative support
As digital nomads become the norm, governments are becoming more and more aware that there needs to be legal support in place for freelance workers. Due to the nature of the work, freelancers can often be taken advantage of by employers, losing out on pay or referrals if they’re working for a bad company. In the future, governments and other regulatory bodies will likely put some rules and regulations in place to prevent this from happening, and make the working world a better place for freelancers.
Posted by The Secret Businessman