With the rise of the trend of freelancing across various industries, more people are joining the ranks of self-employed professionals in 2024. These positions offer greater flexibility and higher pay, making them an attractive alternative for university graduates seeking employment opportunities.
According to data from the National Center for Education Statistics in the United States, it is estimated that by 2024 around 2 million university graduates will enter the workforce and start building their careers.
For young individuals seeking freelance opportunities, Upwork recently released a list of the most in-demand skills for 2024 in the freelance job market. Upwork stated that with the emergence of new technologies, companies are recognizing the need for new skills to stay competitive. Their research revealed that companies are increasingly seeking skilled freelancers to meet crucial project needs and bridge skill gaps.
CNBC, citing Upwork’s research, highlighted six freelance skills ranging from web development to administrative support across various categories, outlining the benefits these skills bring to companies and the hourly rates these professionals command on the Upwork platform.
Margaret Lilani, Vice President of Talent Delivery at Upwork, mentioned that data analysts examine “extremely large and complex data sets to derive insights that drive business development trajectories.” They utilize tools such as Microsoft Excel, Google Spreadsheet, SQL, and Tableau.
“These skills are cutting-edge and evolving at a rapid pace,” Lilani emphasized when discussing these tools, “thus, those who know how to harness and deploy these technologies will emerge as winners in this game.”
Data analysts on Upwork charge up to $167 per hour.
Global job platform Monster’s career expert Vicki Salemi explained that full-stack developers, responsible for a website’s “front end and back end” when building websites and applications, handle the interface visible to users and the mechanisms that make it function.
Considering the continuous evolution of technology, Lilani stated that the demand for full-stack developers “will not disappear.”
Full-stack developers on Upwork charge up to $190 per hour.
Salemi highlighted that social media marketers spread information about clients on platforms like Instagram and Pinterest, aiming to “build platforms, interact with customers, build brands, drive sales, increase website traffic.”
Similar to full-stack development, given the popularity of these platforms, “social media marketing is another marketing method that will not fade away,” Lilani emphasized.
Social media marketers charge up to $250 per hour.
Accountants examine financial statements to assist businesses and individuals with operations, taxes, and more.
“We always need taxation,” Salemi stated, emphasizing that this skill can also be used in the long term.
Accountants on the Upwork platform charge $125 per hour.
Virtual assistants assist clients in various ways. Lilani mentioned that they are hired to “manage calendars, help with email correspondence, beautify some presentations,” and more.
While some may specialize in certain software or platforms, “the nature of being versatile also makes them flexible,” she added.
These assistants charge $65 per hour on Upwork.
Salemi noted that graphic designers are “creating visual concepts that go hand in hand with clients’ brands.” They design logos, infographics, social media posts, presentations, and more.
“We live in a visual society,” Lilani stated, “thus graphic design becomes even more crucial.”
Graphic designers on the Upwork platform charge up to $150 per hour.