A brand new examine by Iwoca, a small enterprise lender, has surveyed 500 UK SMEs to disclose what number of companies are hiring freelancers, and examined the freelancer web site Upwork to establish the roles with the very best demand. The examine additionally analysed the costings of various roles to make clear how a lot companies can anticipate to spend when hiring for various job roles and the place they will encounter essentially the most competitors when hiring freelancers.
The work talent with the very best demand is builders
The analysis revealed that the job with the very best demand was builders. There have been 243 job openings marketed on Upwork throughout Could 2022 for this talent. This can be a stark comparability to the position with the least demand – knowledge analysts – which solely had 5 roles marketed on the time.
When there may be excessive demand for a sure talent or job position, companies ought to attempt to provide the market price (for builders that is £51.82 per hour) or above- this can be sure that they stand out from competitors which means their possibilities of securing the perfect expertise are elevated.
Companies ought to bear in mind, nonetheless, that the demand for sure freelance abilities can fluctuate, because of the wants of a enterprise at the moment. Builders, for instance, are wanted periodically and often at first of a challenge, whereas knowledge analysts are sometimes required for an extended time frame when quarterly reviews are due.
While iwoca’s analysis offers us an perception into the demand of sure roles, it doesn’t inform the entire story. To grasp extra concerning the demand for freelancers, iwoca additionally surveyed small enterprise homeowners on the talents they have been probably to rent for.
The freelance roles probably to be employed for by SMEs have been predominantly digital
In line with iwoca’s survey, internet designers are the probably position employed for by small companies, with round a fifth of UK small enterprise homeowners (22%) more likely to rent an internet design freelancer. This was adopted by Accountants (20%), Social Media Entrepreneurs (15%) and Graphic Designers (12%).
The examine additionally appeared on the search quantity for these completely different abilities to guage the place the largest demand sits. When wanting into this, iwoca discovered that graphic designers are essentially the most looked for freelance roles, with practically 2000 searches made on common per thirty days within the UK. This exhibits that they not solely are companies more likely to rent a freelancer with this talent however they’re additionally extremely wanted. This makes graphic design a really engaging avenue for these trying to start their freelance profession. Compared, the bottom looked for freelance position was ‘admin’, which acquired simply 70 searches per thirty days within the UK.
SEM specialists are the very best paid freelancers
After analysing the hourly charges of freelancer roles, iwoca reviews that SEM, search engine advertising specialists, are the very best paid of any position. Search Engine Advertising Specialists differ from search engine optimization (Search Engine Optimization) specialists in that they give attention to paid promoting somewhat than natural. On common, the hourly price for SEM specialists on the time of analysis was £58.76, which is astonishing when in comparison with their common hourly price in a full-time employed job- £15.17 per hour.
Per yr, a search engine advertising specialist in a full time position earns round £31,340 compared to potential earnings of round £112,827 as a freelancer. iwoca notes that on this foundation if a small enterprise proprietor is trying to rent a SEM specialist over a long run foundation, it’s seemingly extra financially viable to rent a salaried full-time position.
65% of small enterprise homeowners said they have been more likely to rent a freelancer to assist develop their enterprise:
To grasp whether or not companies are literally hiring freelancers, iwoca surveyed small enterprise homeowners within the UK. The survey revealed that just about half of the SME’s have already employed a freelancer for at the very least one position within the past- 47%. Additional, 65% of respondents declare they’re seemingly to make use of a freelancer sooner or later to assist develop their enterprise. However can companies profit from freelancers?
To make clear how SMEs can successfully make use of the freelance house and the way they profit companies, iwoca spoke to Alex Mastin, CEO and founding father of Dwelling Grounds, who says:
“Freelancers can permit firms to give attention to extra vital elements of the enterprise. It’s a superb option to minimise disruptions when your workforce or firm is experiencing change or an elevated workload. It means my workforce can give attention to vital duties whereas delegating people who require much less oversight to an outdoor supply.”
The analysis makes clear {that a} freelance profession, notably a digital profession, is a maintainable life-style and nice profession path to take. Digital roles are the very best in demand and the very best paid giving flexibility in profession selection for these within the digital house. Small companies are clear on their intention to rent freelancers, on the idea that they consider it can assist them to develop their enterprise. Finally, SME’s and freelancers can develop a harmonious relationship in serving to the opposite to succeed.
You possibly can view the complete examine right here.