Within the past two years, U.S. businesses have ramped up their freelance hiring by a whopping 260% between 2022 and 2024, according to a Mellow report. It's been estimated that in another two years, by the year 2027, freelancers will dominate the U.S. workforce by an overwhelming 50.9%, making up more than half of the labor market.
The U.S. leads the way in online freelancing, holding 28% of the global online freelance market, a new analysis from JobLeads revealed after combing through data from the Online Labor Observatory and the World Bank Group.
After the U.S., Spain and Mexico rank second and third in global freelance hiring, holding 6.98% and 4.63% of the market share, respectively. Within the United States, three specific industries dominate freelance hiring. (This is critical for you to understand if you're considering embarking on a profitable freelance career.) These industries are:
Software development and tech (36.41% freelance job market share)
Creative and multimedia positions (21.06%)
Clerical data entry jobs (18.22%)
3 Top Skills To Make Money As A Freelancer In 2025
This means that in 2025, the key skills you need to have to be in the best possible position to make money online through freelance contracts and projects, include:
1. Software Development And Tech Skills
You may not have a traditional background in software engineering or development, but you can still carve your own spot in the market through being self-taught and making use of online courses, training, and practical projects to add to your portfolio through learning via Coursera and Codecademy, for example.
The tech space is exploding in demand for freelancers to support with digital solutions and enable tech teams and product development teams to work faster. The more niche skills you have, the better, especially as employers are increasingly turning to freelance talent for hard-to-find tech skills so they can fill the skills gap in their organizations.
To be more specific, some of the top software development and tech skills you should consider developing include:
HTML
Python
React
JavaScript
CSS
Mobile app development tools such as Kotlin and Swift
API integration
Cybersecurity and penetration testing
AI, automation, and chatbot development
Using no-code tools
Tech support and system administration, specifically for start-ups and small businesses
2. Creative And Multimedia Skills
Creative and multimedia skills include everything from copywriting to branding and even UX/UI design. So if you find that you have a natural knack for storytelling, visuals, creativity, thinking outside the box, designing and aligning with user experiences and viewing solutions through the lens of the customer journey, this is the perfect field for you.
As a creative, you can make money from freelancing using these specific high-in-demand and high-income-generating skills:
Content writing and copywriting
Graphic design
UX/UI design
Podcast editing
Presentation design and pitch deck development
Digital marketing
Social media management and analytics
3. Clerical Data Entry Skills
Although we know that data entry in itself is a thing of the past and is swiftly becoming outdated due to it being easily replaceable by AI, there are still some skills that are in high demand. These are not your basic data entry job type of skills. These are skills that are more specifically related to managing and processing data to be used by AI and for more complex processes. This includes:
Data analysis
Data science
Online research skills
Legal transcription
Bookkeeping and accounting support
Martin Schmidt, co-founder of JobLeads, commented on the findings of the report:
"The gig economy is booming worldwide, with the number of gig workers expected to rise by over 30 million in the next year alone. This rapid growth reflects a fundamental shift in how people approach work - flexibility and autonomy are no longer just perks but non-negotiables for today's workforce.
"Especially among younger generations like Gen Z, professionals are increasingly drawn to the freedom that gig work offers. From choosing their own projects to working remotely, this empowers individuals to take control of their careers," he said. "At the same time, businesses benefit from a global pool of skilled talent that freelancers bring to the table.
Schmidt continued, "As the sector continues to evolve, both workers and employers need to adapt to a new reality where traditional employment models may no longer meet the needs and expectations of the modern workforce."
Through investing in yourself so you can learn the skill areas listed above, you'll reap a strong return on investment; you'll see yourself in higher demand for your services, opening up more career doors and opportunities as you progress; and you'll also find yourself in a position where you're not only consistently in demand, but you're also able to command premium fees because of your skills and niche, increasing your overall value in the job market.
The tables are turning and employers want you. What will you start doing today to take advantage of the opportunity?
FAQs
What other countries are hiring freelancers or independent contractors?
Other countries in the top 10 list after the United States, Spain, and Mexico, include the U.K., Colombia, Argentina, India, Australia, Canada, and Germany.
Do I need a degree?
According to the JobLeads report, most freelancers are only high-school educated (52%), "while one in five (20%) hold a bachelor's degree. Postgraduate degree holders are less common, making up just 9% of main gig workers and 3% of secondary gig workers," the study concluded. So you don't need a degree to be hired as a freelancer.
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