Freelance Confidential - Amanda Hackwith [3]
So what's changed and how does it effect you? Some highlights include:
Increased freelancing in Asia and Europe.
A more rural shift. More freelancers are working in medium-sized cities to small towns, with fewer living in the biggest urban centers.
Surprising news about happiness and income.
Previous work for a full-time employer can benefit your business.
Identity: Who is Freelancing
Gender
The distance provided by working alone and selecting your own clients makes freelancing an exceptionally egalitarian profession, however female freelancers continue to remain a minority. More women are branching out into self-employed work in 2007, though the freelance market continues to be dominated by men. From 2007 to 2010, there was a 4% increase in women freelancers.
Overall
Gender by Profession
While there are more female freelancers in some roles, like graphic designers, web designers and writers, women are still a freelancing minority. In fact, communication-centered roles like Writers and Virtual Assistants were the only professions that resulted in more female than male respondents.
Despite the low number of female freelancers, it's important to note that on almost every other result, female freelancers reported just as much success, income, experience, and happiness as their male counterparts. Although women may not be as inclined or encouraged to build a freelance business, those that choose to do so enjoy equal success.
Age
The age of self-employed freelancers continues to skew towards young, with an average age of 30. Part-time freelancers are slightly lower at 28 and full-time freelancers are slightly older at 32.
To get a better look at how age effects your freelancing and how various elements change over the course of a freelancer's life, we pulled in some other numbers:
Note: Hours per week was averaged by using the majority response. All statistics include both full-time and part-time freelancers.
The results are certainly interesting. Income-earning potential increases steadily through out the life of a freelancer, with the most drastic jump appearing in the 20 year old and 30 to 40 year old brackets. This paints the most "successful" freelancer as being middle aged, highly skilled, and has worked as a freelancer for more than eight years. It is fairly easy to attribute this to experience: a highly trained professional who has successfully worked at their business for a number of years will have had time to build up client demand and keep rates high.
However, contrary to what you would assume, happiness does not appear to be tied to income. Reported happiness is highest in our very youngest freelancers, who are making the least amount of income. Young freelancers seem better equipped to handle the longer hours and relatively lower rates which come with a new business or a low level of experience. I'll explore the issue of happiness and success more in the Myths of Success chapter.
TIP: SURVEY SAYS...
Like most careers, a freelance business can take time to build. Invest as much time and energy into your work early on in order to set up the framework for success later in your career.
Money isn't everything. Happiness doesn't necessarily peak with income — working hours, age, and ability to handle stress effect your perception of happiness. Take the time to evaluate what your personal goals are outside of income.
Location
2010 saw growth with more freelancers working from Asia and Europe, with a very slight decline in the Americas. With the economic growth of China and other countries in the region, I expect to see more entreprenuers and freelancers over time in Asia. Continent of residence reflected very little difference in the results; Europeans enjoyed slightly better health benefits and South Americans reported slightly higher education backgrounds prior to freelancing.
Continent of Residence
How would you