How Many Freelancers Are There in 2024?

Freelancers Around the World

In 2024, millions of people around the world are working as freelancers. Freelancers are people who work independently, offering services to different clients. This could be writing, designing, programming, or even consulting.

1. In the United States
   In the United States, there are about 73 million freelancers in 2024. This is about 46% of the U.S. workforce, according to a report by Upwork (2024). The number of freelancers in the U.S. has been growing steadily. In 2017, there were about 57 million freelancers in the U.S. (Upwork, 2017). This means there has been an increase of 16 million freelancers in just 7 years—a growth of about 28%.

2. In Europe
   In Europe, freelancing is also growing. A report by the European Forum of Independent Professionals (EFIP) (2024) shows that there are more than 22 million freelancers in Europe. This number has been increasing rapidly. For example, in 2013, there were around 9 million freelancers in Europe (EFIP, 2013). This is an increase of 13 million freelancers over the last decade—an impressive 144% growth!

3. In Asia
   Freelancing is also very popular in Asia. Many people in countries like India, the Philippines, and Pakistan work as freelancers, especially in fields like IT, design, and customer service. In India, there are more than 15 million freelancers in 2024, according to a study by Payoneer (2024). Freelancing in India has grown by about 30% since 2018, when there were around 11.5 million freelancers (Payoneer, 2018).

Why Are So Many People Freelancing?

Freelancing is becoming more common because it offers flexibility and freedom. People like being able to choose their own work hours and projects. Many freelancers say they feel happier and more in control of their lives compared to when they worked regular jobs (Brawley & Pury, 2016). Also, with technology making it easier to work online, more people are choosing freelancing as a way to earn money from home.

Freelancing and the Economy

Freelancers are an important part of the global economy. In the U.S. alone, freelancers contributed about $1.5 trillion to the economy in 2024 (Upwork, 2024). This is a huge increase from 2017 when freelancers contributed around $1.4 trillion (Upwork, 2017). This shows how important freelancing is, not just for individuals but also for the economy.

Conclusion

In 2024, freelancing is more popular than ever. Millions of people around the world are working as freelancers, enjoying the freedom and flexibility that come with it. The number of freelancers is increasing every year, with significant growth in places like the U.S., Europe, and Asia. As freelancing continues to grow, it is becoming an important part of the global economy.

References

Brawley, A. M., & Pury, C. L. S. (2016). Work experiences on MTurk: Job satisfaction, turnover, and information sharing. Computers in Human Behavior, 54, 531-546.

European Forum of Independent Professionals (EFIP). (2024). Freelancing in Europe: Latest statistics. Retrieved from https://www.efip.org

Payoneer. (2024). Freelancing in India: Growth and trends in 2024. Retrieved from https://www.payoneer.com

Upwork. (2024). Freelancing in America: A national survey of the freelance workforce. Retrieved from https://www.upwork.com

Upwork. (2017). Freelancing in America 2017: National survey of the new workforce. Retrieved from https://www.upwork.com