The concept of freelancing is nothing new, but there is no doubt that it has enjoyed a major spike in popularity in recent years. In fact, the wave of growth is set to continue over the coming years with experts predicting that 86.5 million Americans will adopt this approach to work by 2027. A significant proportion identifies themselves as digital nomads.
So, why has the significant shift occurred and what does it mean for future workers? Here’s everything you need to know.
Why Digital Nomads?
Digital nomads are defined as workers who earn their living by working online without a fixed physical location. In short, they travel while working in the digital arena. For most digital nomads, this means a life of freelancing for a range of different clients.
There are now over 35 million digital nomads working globally, but the demographical data may surprise you. Perhaps most noticeably, over 61% of this workforce is married. Meanwhile, 80% will stay in any given location for up to nine months before moving on. The average age of a digital nomad is 32.
Working as a digital nomad offers a range of attractive features for workers, including but not limited to:
- Travel the world while still enjoying a successful career,
- Choose your own work hours and location,
- Get paid well — over 44% are paid at least $75k per year,
- Work for clients you like and avoid working long-term for difficult clients,
- No commuting or dress codes to worry about.
People are now committed to enjoying a strong work-life balance, which means being happy during work hours and in recreational moments while also earning good money. Theoretically, the concept has been a winner for many years. Now, though, it is the practical solution too.
How Has the Landscape Improved for Freelancers?
For many years, digital nomads struggled to gain online access. In 2012, only 34.7% of the world had online access. Today, that figure stands at over 63% as well as 90% in developed countries. When combined with cloud-computing software and tech accessories like portable chargers, the situation is far more convenient than it was in previous generations.
Perhaps more importantly, the gig economy is in the healthiest state it’s ever been. The pandemic has shown businesses that remote working can deliver stunning results and are, therefore, more open to posting jobs of this nature. A combination of increased demand for digital nomads and greater availability of positions has put freelancers in a stronger position.
It is something Javier Camara, CEO of online job portal beBee, feels has been a catalyst for ushering a new era for freelancers around the world. He says: “People are understandably keen to make up for lost time by enjoying more adventures in the post-pandemic era, which explains the boost in digital nomad numbers. Now, thanks to worker-centric platforms like ours, they have greater control of the projects and clients they take on too.”
Employers now understand their obligation to provide better working relations with their remote-based personnel too, which is building happier setups for all parties involved. For digital nomads, the future looks brighter than ever.
