Freelance Platforms Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Component (Platform, Services), By End-user, By Application (Web & Graphic Design, Project Management), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2023 - 2030

Freelance Platforms Market Size & Trends

The global freelance platforms market size was valued at USD 4.39 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.5% from 2023 to 2030. The increasing need for change in employee hiring processes and the emergence of remote work culture drive market growth. Freelance platforms are marketplaces that connect businesses and skilled and qualified freelancers. Businesses can use freelance platforms for hiring temporary workforce by searching for freelancers based on various factors such as experience and skill, among others. Individuals looking to freelance can create their profile on the platform and contact employers.

Freelance platforms are beneficial for both businesses looking to hire talent and for individuals looking for freelancing opportunities. Freelance platforms give access to talent worldwide as organizations find numerous freelancers on the platform depending on their project requirements. Moreover, businesses can spend less on the workforce as employing a full-time workforce is costly as they will have to spend on perks, fixed salaries, and office space rent. For individuals, freelancing gives flexibility as they can work remotely, improves their work-life balance by choosing projects, and reduces their commuting time between the office and home. Freelancing is witnessing growth in adoption as professionals look for alternatives to traditional nine-to-five jobs. Upwork Global Inc.’s 2022 Freelance Forward survey shows that the percentage of freelancers of the total U.S. workers grew by 3% from 2021 to 2022.

Market players in the freelance platform industry consistently enhance their platforms to ensure a seamless user experience for their end-users. These platforms undergo continuous improvements to make them more user-friendly, intuitive, and efficient. For instance, in 2023, DeeLance, a decentralized freelance network, unveiled its Web3-based platform that seeks to revolutionize how freelancers interact with potential clients. This groundbreaking decentralized platform aims to create micro-communities within a metaverse, enabling creative professionals to connect, collaborate, exchange ideas, and build lasting partnerships. Additionally, the platform features an NFT marketplace where users can conduct transactions using the native token $Dlance.

COVID-19 Impacts

The global markets experienced a downturn due to mandatory shutdowns and stay-at-home orders implemented to curb the spread of COVID-19. This led to a significant increase in layoffs and a reduction in planned expansions across various industries. In 2020, the International Labor Organization (ILO) estimated that approximately 400 million jobs were lost worldwide during the second quarter of 2020 due to the impact of COVID-19. This subsequently impacted the market for freelance platforms as well. However, with the steep decline in traditional employment around the globe, there was a sudden increase in the growth of the number of freelancers affected by the layoffs.

The growth of the freelance platform market is attributed to the increasing demand for freelancers for project completion and growing reliance on freelancing platforms. Additionally, the advantages of remote freelancing include the ability to work from anywhere, reduced overhead costs for businesses, and access to a global talent pool. These factors have contributed to the growth and popularity of freelance platforms during this time. Lastly, the pandemic prompted businesses to reevaluate their work structures and embrace the advantages of remote work and freelance arrangements. The businesses recognized the effectiveness and efficiency of engaging temporary workers for project-based requirements, resulting in a transformation in their talent acquisition and management strategies.

Component Insights

The platform segment led the market and accounted for more than 52.6% share of the global revenue in 2022. By component segment, the freelance platforms industry is bifurcated into platform and services. The platform segment is further categorized as project-based, solution-based, talent-based, and hybrid. The freelance platforms are a virtual marketplace connecting skilled freelancers with employers to find work and get paid in return. The platform enables both parties to collaborate directly, eliminating the intervention of any mediator, such as talent search or recruitment agencies. The platform facilitates the entire process, including job posting, proposal submission, communication, project management, and payment transactions. These platforms run on a revenue model that includes service fees/commission and subscription fees by offering escrow services.

The services segment is expected to witness the highest CAGR of 18.1% throughout the forecast period. The service offerings in this market encompass a range of technological and managed services that pertain to different aspects of freelance work. The managed services comprise talent engagement, strategy consulting, people & organization consulting, engineering services, and freelance recruiting, among others. The technological services market players offer include cloud, quality assurance, application, and information security services. These freelance services are designed to support and enhance the freelancing experience, making it easier for freelancers to connect with clients and providing clients with the necessary tools and support to collaborate with freelancers successfully.

End-user Insights

The freelancer segment accounted for more than 53.0% share of the global revenue in 2022. By end-user segment, the market is bifurcated into employers and freelancers. The freelancer segment is further categorized into age groups: 18 - 34, 35 - 54, and above 55. The 18 - 34 age group has a higher inclination toward seeking remote occupations as full-time employment. The higher adoption of remote work among this age group can be attributed to flexible work time, remote workplace, access to the global market, and convenience to choose work opportunities.

Additionally, the readiness of the age group to upskill and scale despite challenges in the market, such as untimely payment, unconfirmed retention, and uncertain employment is propelling the growth of the market in the forecast period. Furthermore, the younger age group often has a strong entrepreneurial spirit and a desire to create their own opportunities. Freelance platforms offer them a marketplace to grow their own businesses enabling them to build a client base, showcase their skills, and take on projects independently, fostering their entrepreneurial ambitions.

The employers segment is anticipated to grow at a considerable CAGR of 18.4% throughout the forecast period. The employers’ segment is further bifurcated into SMEs and large enterprises. Employers are increasingly turning to freelance platforms as they are restructuring their hiring practices owing to the pandemic. The emergence of remote work, along with the availability of online collaboration tools and video conferencing, has facilitated the integration of talented professionals from various locations worldwide.

This shift in mindset has prompted many businesses to embrace the freelance model and engage more freelancers to meet their needs. Moreover, these platforms provide access to a diverse talent pool, enabling employers to find professionals with specific skills and expertise that match their project requirements. This expanded access to a global talent pool offers a wider range of options compared to traditional hiring methods.

Application Insights

The project management segment led the market and accounted for more than 24.3% share of the global revenue in 2022. By application segment, the market is bifurcated into project management, sales & marketing, IT, web & graphic designs, and others. Due to the growing complexity of projects in various industries, the demand for project management jobs on freelance platforms is experiencing a boost.

There is a greater need for skilled project managers to coordinate and manage these complex endeavors effectively. Freelance platforms provide access to a wide range of experienced project managers with diverse industry knowledge, allowing businesses to find the right expertise for their projects. Moreover, these platforms attract project managers with specialized expertise in various industries, methodologies, and tools. Businesses can leverage this specialized knowledge to enhance project outcomes and efficiency.

The web & graphics segment is anticipated to grow at a considerable CAGR of 19.2% throughout the forecast period. The rapid growth of e-commerce has created a need for web and graphics professionals to design and develop user-friendly and visually appealing online stores. From creating product images and banners to designing intuitive interfaces, freelancers in the web and graphics field play a crucial role in helping businesses thrive in the competitive e-commerce landscape.

Moreover, businesses of all sizes recognize the importance of a strong online presence to reach their target audience. This has led to a surge in demand for web and graphics professionals who can create visually appealing websites, engaging user interfaces, and eye-catching graphics to enhance brand identity and attract customers.

Regional Insights

North America led with a revenue share of 31.6% in 2022. The region is equipped with prominent market players such as Upwork Global Inc., Toptal, Guru.com, Crowdspring, and Workgenius. North America has witnessed a significant rise in the gig economy, with more individuals opting for flexible work arrangements. Moreover, the region has a thriving start-up culture and a robust entrepreneurial spirit.

Freelance platforms offer a valuable resource for start-ups and small businesses to access specialized skills on a project basis, allowing them to scale their operations efficiently without needing a full-time workforce. Lastly, the ongoing digital transformation across regional industries is driving market growth. As businesses adopt digital technologies and strategies, the need for specialized skills and expertise in areas such as software development, digital marketing, and data analysis is increasing, leading to a higher demand for freelancers.

Asia Pacific is expected to grow notably with a CAGR of 18.7%. The growth of the market is driven by the growth of the gig economy, rapid digitalization, and the benefits offered by the platform encompassing globalization & cross-border collaboration, cost-effectiveness, and scalability. The extensive and dispersed customer bases in India and China fuel the demand for freelance platforms, presenting new prospects in the market.

Moreover, the region's untapped potential is creating investment opportunities for multinational companies and established players to expand their presence geographically. For instance, Vistaprint, a subsidiary of Cimpress, announced its acquisition of an Australia-based freelance design marketplace - 99designs. As part of the deal, 99designs will be integrated into Vistaprint while maintaining its own separate brand identity.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

The market is highly competitive. Major players are investing in Research & Development (R&D) to drive innovation. Some prominent players include Upwork Global Inc.; Fiverr International Ltd.; Toptal; People Per Hour Ltd; Freelancer.com; Guru.com; and 99designs. These key players are adopting different development strategies such as product launches, mergers & acquisitions, and others to expand their presence and market share. Along with key strategies, these players are introducing new features to improve the customer experience.

In May 2023, Fiverr International Ltd. announced the launch of Fiverr Enterprise, a solution providing employers and enterprises with comprehensive control and a seamless all-in-one solution for sourcing, managing, onboarding, and paying their freelance talent. It simplifies essential tasks such as budget tracking, tax compliance, legal processes, and workforce classification. By offering these features, the company aims to streamline the freelancer management process and ensure compliance with relevant regulations, enabling businesses to work with freelancers effectively and efficiently. Some prominent players in the global freelance platforms market include:

• Upwork Global Inc.

• Fiverr International Ltd.

• Toptal, LLC

• People Per Hour Ltd

• Freelancer Technology Pty Limited

• Guru.com

• 99designs

• DesignCrowd

• Crowdspring

• WorkGenius

• Paro, Inc.

• Contently

• Gigster LLC

Freelance Platforms Market Report Scope

Global Freelance Platforms Market Report Segmentation

This report forecasts revenue growth at global, regional, and country levels and offers a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the latest industry trends for each of the segments and sub-segments from 2017 to 2030. For this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global freelance platforms market report based on component, end-user, application, and region:

• Component Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2017 - 2030)

  • Platform

    • Project-based

    • Solution-based

    • Talent-based

    • Hybrid

  • Services

• End-user Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2017 - 2030)

  • Employers

    • SMEs

    • Large Enterprises

  • Freelancers (by Age Group)

    • 18 - 34

    • 35 - 54

    • Above 55

• Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2017 - 2030)

  • Project Management

  • Sales & Marketing

  • IT

  • Web and Graphic Design

  • Others

• Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2017 - 2030)

  • North America

    • U.S.

    • Canada

  • Europe

    • UK

    • Germany

    • France

  • Asia Pacific

    • India

    • China

    • Japan

    • South Korea

    • Australia

  • Latin America

    • Brazil

    • Mexico

  • Middle East & Africa

    • Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA)

    • U.A.E.

    • South Africa