30+ Statistics Freelance Writers Should Know
Writing is one of the most common freelancer occupations and it lends itself to remote work. As long as you have decent internet access, you can write and converse with clients from anywhere.
My writing career has been freelance and remote from the start. I’ve written across the United States and in fourteen other countries.
Other people considering becoming freelance writers often wonder whether it's worth leaving a traditional job to become freelance workers. While it's easy to share my personal experience with freelance work, sharing freelance writing statistics (and other freelancing statistics) can sometimes be more useful.
Freelance statistics show you a broader picture of freelance work. If you’re a remote, freelance writer, or want to become one, consider the following statistics about the freelancing workforce, remote workers, and digital nomads.
Remote Work Statistics
Many, but not all, remote workers are freelance workers.
An incredible 97% of workers want all or part of their job to be remote.
According to a survey of 4,612 people, 58% responded they want a fully remote job and 58% desire a partially remote job. Just 3% said they want to work in person all the time. (FlexJobs’ 10th Annual Survey)
About 24% of workers would take a 10-20% pay cut to work remotely and 21% would give up some of their vacation time.
While workers are willing to give up benefits for the flexibility of remote work, many remote workers make more money and have more vacation than their in-person counterparts. (FlexJobs’ 10th Annual Survey)
Employees without flexible work options, like remote work, report being almost twice as likely to have (very) poor mental health.
In a survey of 800 people, those with flexibility in their workdays considered themselves to have better mental health. (FlexJobs’ Mental Health America Survey)
It’s estimated that working from home saves an average of $4,000 per year.
Eliminating commuting costs (gas, car maintenance, insurance), eating out more, professional clothing, and time wasted commuting can save you money.
Add in tax breaks for those who are freelancers or self-employed and those savings are substantial. For some, the savings are closer to $5,000 per year. (FlexJobs1)
Almost 2 million renters who otherwise couldn’t become homeowners could if they started telecommuting.
Many people from the highest cost of living cities, such as San Francisco, can’t afford starter houses in their city, but could easily afford housing in other metro areas, such as Minneapolis. (Zillow)
For 80% of women, remote work is one of the most important factors when considering a new job.
Comparatively, only 69% of men said the same. (FlexJobs2)
About 77% of women consider not needing to “get dressed” a benefit of remote work.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, only 57% of men responded the same. (FlexJobs2)
Half-time remote workers save approximately 11 workdays per year in time that would have been spent commuting.
“Extreme” commuters save over three times that. This is only half-time remote workers. Fully remote workers would save even more time. (Global Workplace Analytics)
If people who have work-from-home possible jobs and wanted to work remote half-time did, the greenhouse gas reduction would be comparable to removing the whole New York workforce off the road.
This estimate assumes a 75% driving reduction on work-from-home days. (Global Workplace Analytics)
Digital Nomad Statistics
Digital nomads provide online, skilled services and travel to different places while still working.
Unlike traditional workers, digital nomads can usually work from anywhere they have internet service. Many, but not all, are independent workers.
Digital nomads were more likely to state an improved quality of life since going independent than non-nomadic freelancers.
Around 76% of surveyed digital nomads cited an improved quality of life compared to 68% of all freelancers surveyed. (Fiverr)
There was a 49% increase in Americans calling themselves digital nomads from 2019 to 2020.
In 2019, 7.3 million Americans described themselves as digital nomads. In 2020, that number was 10.9 million. (Harvard Business Review)
About 90% of digital nomads are satisfied with their jobs.
Around 76% of digital nomads have income satisfaction. (Harvard Business Review)
The average digital nomad’s age is 32.
Some digital nomads travel solo, while others are couples or families. (The Broke Backpacker)
On average, digital nomads make $119,423 a year.
Keep in mind with freelance economy statistics that digital nomads have a variety of professions, from freelance writers to salaried developers and other skilled services. (The Broke Backpacker)
Freelance Statistics
The freelancing industry is on the rise and freelance statistics are frequently changing. Keep in mind with freelance workforce statistics that some freelance workers do remote work, while others in the freelance market have in-person jobs.
About 31% of freelancers earn over $75,000 a year.
Couple this with the fact that freelancers can choose to live and do their freelance jobs in low cost of living areas. (SkillScouter)
Content writing is one of the most common freelancer occupations.
There are different types of content writing, such as blog posts or website copy. (FirstSiteGuide)
Men typically make more money freelancing than women (sometimes up to 4X more!).
This isn't unique to freelance workers, but happens with traditional workers as well. (SkillScouter)
It’s estimated that by 2027, most of the U.S. workforce will be freelancers.
The number of freelancers in the U.S. is on the rise. (SkillScouter)
Most freelancers (69%) still market themselves through in-person networking.
Even remote freelance workers can benefit from in-person communication. (Fiverr)
In 2020, the primary source of work for U.S. freelancers was previous clients.
Friends & family and social media were the next most popular sources. (Statista)
Image source: Statista Research Department
Over half (53%) of Generation Z workers are freelancers.
In comparison, 40% of Millennial workers surveyed freelanced, 31% of Gen X workers freelanced, and only 29% of Baby Boomers freelanced. (FirstSiteGuide)
The U.S. is the top rising freelance economy with 78% year-on-year revenue growth.
Next in growth is the United Kingdom and then Brazil. (SkillScouter)
Among freelancers who left a traditional job to begin freelancing, 50% are making more money.
For about 24% of those freelancers, it took under six months to start earning more and 33% began making more instantly. (SkillScouter)
Around 61% of freelancers specialize across two or three talents.
For example, some freelance workers might work as a freelance web designer and dabble in website copy. (Fiverr)
An incredible 84% of full-time freelancers say they are living the lifestyle they want.
A significant part of this lifestyle is the flexibility and stress reduction. (SkillScouter)
About 70% of full-time freelancers say freelancing is less stressful than traditional work.
This may be due in part to several factors, such as lack of micromanagement and interruptions. (SkillScouter)
Around 86% of freelancers work from home as their main location.
Another popular freelance work location is coffee shops, where 40% of freelancers do some of their work. (FirstSiteGuide)
Around 64% of freelancers say no amount of money could make them take back a traditional 9-5 job.
Freelance work fits particularly well for people who are early birds or night owls. (SkillScouter)
Most freelancers aren’t concerned about AI automating their work.
Around 58% of survey respondents said they weren’t concerned about AI within their business, 34% were uncertain, and only 8% were concerned. (Fiverr)
Most full-time freelancers (67%) predict their income will increase over the next year.
Freelancers choose when to increase their rates, rather than relying on bosses. (SkillScouter)
Freelance work isn't for everyone as it can be less steady than other types of work. However, I hope these freelance statistics have shown some of the benefits freelance workers enjoy.
Whether you want to become a freelance writer or join a different part of the freelance industry, keep in mind both the advantages and disadvantages these freelancing statistics show.