According to a new report released by Fiverr International, Ltd, Orlando, Miami and Tampa top the list for the highest number of freelancers and revenue growth. 

Featuring a comprehensive analysis of the size and revenue of the skilled independent workforce in the Top 30 cities in the U.S., the company’s 7th Annual Freelance Economic Impact Report also identifies major growth across Texas. At the same time, traditional business hubs like San Francisco and New York remain stagnant.

Completed in partnership with Illuminas, the report analyzes secondary data sources, including the U.S. Census Bureau, to estimate the size and growth of the independent professional workforce in top markets. To uncover freelancers’ work habits, motivations and future plans, Illuminas surveyed hundreds of freelancers and compared those findings with an internal survey of freelancers on Fiverr’s platform.

“While we speak at Fiverr every day of the enormous impact we see freelancers having on businesses, this report is tangible proof of that ongoing impact and the enormous potential of the independent workforce for 2024 and beyond,” said Micha Kaufman, CEO and founder, Fiverr. “As Gen Z grows up and makes up a larger portion of the overall workforce, it’s gratifying, and not surprising, to see GenZers choosing to freelance. The report also confirms that a number of workers are embracing artificial intelligence to boost productivity, saving hours each week. The Freelance Economic Impact Report offers incredibly detailed insight into how the nature of freelance work is influenced by societal, technological, and cultural shifts. It’s truly a guide to navigating the future of work.”

Key findings in the report include:

  • Freelancers that reside in major cities make more than the average freelancer in the U.S. as a whole.
  • On average, $4,334 more than the total U.S. average ($48,288 compared to $43,954)
  • Overall, 4-in-10 (38 percent) U.S. independent workers raised their rates in 2023, and one-half (49 percent) expect to within the next six months
  • Freelancers embrace AI to boost productivity.
  • Two-in-five (40 percent) freelancers report using AI tools, software or platforms as part of their freelance work in 2023, with higher usage rates among independent workers providing technical services (47 percent), males (43 percent), Gen Z (56 percent), and Millennials (47 percent).
  • Freelancers using AI-based tools experienced a significant boost in productivity, saving an average of 8.1 hours per week.
  • More independent workers have abandoned full-time work to work exclusively freelance.
  • Three in ten (29 percent) of freelancers hold a permanent job in addition to their freelance work; however, more independent workers focused exclusively on freelancing in 2023, rising to 71 percent from 64 percent in 2022 and 61 percent in 2021
  • Fiverr freelancers in the U.S. are also moving towards full-time freelancing, with 57 percent reporting exclusively freelance, up from 52 percent the year before.
  • Women, in particular, view flexibility as a significant advantage of freelancing.
  • Of the freelancers surveyed, 51 percent identified as female and 49 percent as male.
  • The freedom to work where and when they choose is more critical to female freelancers, with one-half (50 percent) taking up freelancing to work from home compared to 41 percent of males and one-third (34 percent) to be in control of their schedules versus 22 percent of men.

Shake-ups across top U.S. markets include:

  • The fastest-growing freelance markets by population include Houston (#1), Orlando (#2), Las Vegas (#3), and Miami (#4) based on a predicted three-year growth rate (2021-2023).
  • Los Angeles, New York, and Nashville have the highest concentration of creative professionals who earn higher-than-average revenues.
  • Boston and Seattle are noted for highly educated populations and technology-oriented freelance workforces.

To view the full report, go here. 

Image courtesy Fiverr