Full-stack development is the most highly sought tech skill among freelance talent, according to Upwork’s just-released list of the most in-demand skills for freelance professionals in 2023. Among Upwork’s list of most in-demand skills for independent talent, those with the highest year-over-year growth on the Upwork platform are sales & business development (54%), data entry (47%), accounting (45%) and 3D animation (44%).
Below, we list the most in-demand skills for freelance professionals based on what businesses are also looking for in tech, marketing, customer service, accounting and consulting, and design and creative categories.
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Even during economic uncertainty and with many professionals reevaluating their work priorities, companies continue to face a persistent talent shortage. Recent Upwork data indicates 60 million Americans performed freelance work in the past 12 months, representing 39% of the U.S. workforce, an all-time high.
“Amid tech sector layoffs, we’re seeing organizations [that] still need to get work done increasingly embrace remote work and experimenting with new talent models and sources,” said Margaret Lilani, vice president of talent solutions at Upwork. “At the same time, this economic volatility is providing an opportunity for millions of professionals to reevaluate their priorities, explore new ways of working and redefine what it means to have a fulfilling career.”
Liliani cited the flexibility and control that skilled freelancing offers as contributing to its popularity.
“We are experiencing a once-in-a-lifetime, tectonic shift in the notion of work, where skilled professionals are rethinking what they want from their careers and are gravitating toward the flexibility, autonomy and benefits of freelancing,” she said.
This is an ideal time for freelancers to expand their skillsets or break into a new career while companies seek independent talent across a broader range and at a higher rate than ever before, Lilani added. She doesn’t anticipate the popularity of freelancing declining.
At the same time, getting started as a freelance profession requires commitment, Lilani noted, but the autonomy and control it provides are key drivers in why so many professionals are exploring freelancing.
“Independent professionals want to control the work they do, who they do it for and when they do it,” Lilani said. “Skilled freelancing is a clear benefit in that regard … especially in times of economic uncertainty.”
Kevin Campbell, a full-stack web developer with over $1 million in earnings on Upwork, similarly extolled the benefits of freelancing in a prepared statement.
“As we enter a new year during uncertain economic times, professional freelancing is a great way to leverage your talents, build new skills, and diversify and protect your income,” he said. “Businesses are always searching for skilled independent talent, especially now. Not only is the demand for my services at an all-time high, but I’m in complete control of how I want to design my career.”
Skills data was sourced from the Upwork database and is based on U.S. freelancer earnings from Jan. 1, 2022 to Oct. 31, 2022, Upwork said. Each skill had a minimum of 500 projects with active work during the period. Year-over-year growth was estimated by comparing the freelancer earnings in 2022 to freelancer earnings in the same period in 2021.
