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Submitted URL: http://link.email.upwork.com/ls/click?upn=VqS90m2f8fx8n-2F1K6AZcGbPcv3ag7rzlW2nWQBZhjU4YZrYPXUMqrBxiz7Ldn0l2-2FmvCQbWf09rastI...
Effective URL: https://www.upwork.com/research/labor-market-trends-and-insights?utm_source=Braze&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=202112_...
Submission: On December 23 via api from US — Scanned from DE

Form analysis 6 forms found in the DOM

GET /search/profiles/

<form action="/search/profiles/" method="GET" role="search" aria-label="Form"><input type="hidden" name="nbs" value="1" autocomplete="off"> <input autocomplete="off" type="search" name="q" data-cy="search-input" placeholder="Search"
    aria-label="Search" class="nav-search-catalog-input is-clear">
  <div class="nav-dropdown nav-search-catalog-btns nav-d-flex"><button data-cy="search-clear-button" aria-label="Reset Input" type="reset" class="nav-btn-icon nav-search-catalog-clear" style="display: none;"><span icon-name="close-circle" size=""
        aria-hidden="true" class="up-s-nav-icon"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 14 14" aria-hidden="true" role="img">
          <path d="M11.207 9.793l-1.414 1.414L7 8.414l-2.793 2.793-1.414-1.414L5.586 7 2.793 4.207l1.414-1.414L7 5.586l2.793-2.793 1.414 1.414L8.414 7l2.793 2.793zM7 0a7 7 0 100 14A7 7 0 007 0z"></path>
        </svg></span></button> <button type="submit" aria-label="Search" class="nav-btn-icon"><span icon-name="search" size="" aria-hidden="true" class="up-s-nav-icon"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 14 14" width="14" height="14"
          role="img">
          <path d="M13.65 12L10.4 8.75A5.64 5.64 0 0 0 5.66 0a5.67 5.67 0 1 0 3.1 10.4L12 13.66a1.15 1.15 0 0 0 1.64 0 1.16 1.16 0 0 0 0-1.65zM5.66 9.55a3.89 3.89 0 1 1 .01-7.78 3.89 3.89 0 0 1 0 7.78z"></path>
        </svg></span></button> <button type="button" data-cy="search-switch-button" aria-expanded="false" aria-label="Switch search source" class="nav-btn-icon"><span icon-name="dropdown-caret" size="xs" aria-hidden="true"
        class="up-s-nav-icon nav-caret nav-caret-sm"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 14 14" width="14" height="14" role="img">
          <path d="M.37,5l5.75,5.92a1.23,1.23,0,0,0,1.78,0L13.64,5a1.31,1.31,0,0,0,0-1.83,1.27,1.27,0,0,0-.86-.37H1.25A1.27,1.27,0,0,0,0,4v0A1.28,1.28,0,0,0,.37,5Z"></path>
        </svg></span></button> <button type="button" data-cy="search-close" aria-label="Close Search" class="nav-btn-icon nav-search-catalog-close align-items-center nav-d-lg-none is-alone"><span class="nav-close-icon"></span></button>
    <div aria-live="polite" class="sr-only"><!----></div>
    <ul role="listbox" tabindex="-1" data-cy="search-options" aria-label="Search Options" class="nav-dropdown-menu nav-dropdown-search">
      <li role="presentation" class="active"><a role="option" tabindex="0" data-cy="menuitem-freelancers-button" data-is-menu-item="" target="_self" aria-selected="true"><span icon-name="user" size="" aria-hidden="true" class="up-s-nav-icon"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 14 14" aria-hidden="true" role="img"><path d="M7 8c-3.314 0-6 1.85-6 3.297v2.027c0 .373.358.676.8.676h10.4c.442 0 .8-.303.8-.676v-2.027C13 9.85 10.314 8 7 8zm3-5a3 3 0 11-6 0 3 3 0 016 0z"></path></svg></span> <span class="nav-search-catalog-option">
              Talent
            </span> <!----> <span class="nav-search-catalog-query-type">
              Hire professionals and agencies
            </span></a></li>
      <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="option" tabindex="0" data-cy="menuitem-projects-button" data-is-menu-item="" target="_self" aria-selected="false"><span icon-name="project" size="" aria-hidden="true" class="up-s-nav-icon"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 14 14" width="14" height="14" role="img"><path d="M11.667 1.273h-2.8C8.6.509 7.867 0 7 0S5.4.51 5.133 1.273h-2.8C1.6 1.273 1 1.845 1 2.545v10.182c0 .7.6 1.273 1.333 1.273h9.334C12.4 14 13 13.427 13 12.727V2.545c0-.7-.6-1.272-1.333-1.272zM7 1.273c.4 0 .667.254.667.636S7.4 2.545 7 2.545s-.667-.254-.667-.636.267-.636.667-.636zM3 12V3h1v1.824h6V3h1v9H3z"></path> <rect width="6" height="1" x="4" y="6"></rect> <rect width="6" height="1" x="4" y="8"></rect> <rect width="6" height="1" x="4" y="10"></rect></svg></span> <span class="nav-search-catalog-option">
              Projects
            </span> <!----> <span class="nav-search-catalog-query-type">
              Buy pre-defined projects
            </span></a></li>
      <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="option" tabindex="0" data-cy="menuitem-jobs-button" data-is-menu-item="" target="_self" aria-selected="false"><span icon-name="briefcase-hire" size="" aria-hidden="true" class="up-s-nav-icon"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 14 14" width="14" height="14" role="img"><path d="M13.51 3a.5.5 0 01.491.51v8.98c0 .282-.22.51-.498.51H.499a.504.504 0 01-.498-.51V3.51c0-.282.215-.51.49-.51H4V1.45s.067-.451.407-.449c1.748.006 3.496.007 5.245-.001.34-.002.348.45.348.45V3h3.51zM5 3h4V2H5v1zm4.253 2L6.067 9.357l-1.63-1.21L3.5 9.265l2.899 2.152 4.101-5.61L9.253 5z"></path></svg></span> <span class="nav-search-catalog-option">
              Jobs
            </span> <!----> <span class="nav-search-catalog-query-type">
              Apply to jobs posted by clients
            </span></a></li>
    </ul>
  </div>
</form>

Name: wf-form-Talent-Form — POST https://null

<form id="wf-form-Talent-Form" name="wf-form-Talent-Form" data-name="Talent Form" action="https://null" method="post" class="search-form-3-0">
  <div class="form-label-3-0">Upwork Component</div>
</form>

GET /search/profiles/

<form action="/search/profiles/" method="GET" role="search" aria-label="Form"><input type="hidden" name="nbs" value="1" autocomplete="off"> <input autocomplete="off" type="search" name="q" data-cy="search-input" placeholder="Search"
    aria-label="Search" class="nav-search-catalog-input is-clear">
  <div class="nav-dropdown nav-search-catalog-btns nav-d-flex"><button data-cy="search-clear-button" aria-label="Reset Input" type="reset" class="nav-btn-icon nav-search-catalog-clear" style="display: none;"><span icon-name="close-circle" size=""
        aria-hidden="true" class="up-s-nav-icon"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 14 14" aria-hidden="true" role="img">
          <path d="M11.207 9.793l-1.414 1.414L7 8.414l-2.793 2.793-1.414-1.414L5.586 7 2.793 4.207l1.414-1.414L7 5.586l2.793-2.793 1.414 1.414L8.414 7l2.793 2.793zM7 0a7 7 0 100 14A7 7 0 007 0z"></path>
        </svg></span></button> <button type="submit" aria-label="Search" class="nav-btn-icon"><span icon-name="search" size="" aria-hidden="true" class="up-s-nav-icon"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 14 14" width="14" height="14"
          role="img">
          <path d="M13.65 12L10.4 8.75A5.64 5.64 0 0 0 5.66 0a5.67 5.67 0 1 0 3.1 10.4L12 13.66a1.15 1.15 0 0 0 1.64 0 1.16 1.16 0 0 0 0-1.65zM5.66 9.55a3.89 3.89 0 1 1 .01-7.78 3.89 3.89 0 0 1 0 7.78z"></path>
        </svg></span></button> <button type="button" data-cy="search-switch-button" aria-expanded="false" aria-label="Switch search source" class="nav-btn-icon"><span icon-name="dropdown-caret" size="xs" aria-hidden="true"
        class="up-s-nav-icon nav-caret nav-caret-sm"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 14 14" width="14" height="14" role="img">
          <path d="M.37,5l5.75,5.92a1.23,1.23,0,0,0,1.78,0L13.64,5a1.31,1.31,0,0,0,0-1.83,1.27,1.27,0,0,0-.86-.37H1.25A1.27,1.27,0,0,0,0,4v0A1.28,1.28,0,0,0,.37,5Z"></path>
        </svg></span></button> <button type="button" data-cy="search-close" aria-label="Close Search" class="nav-btn-icon nav-search-catalog-close align-items-center nav-d-lg-none is-alone"><span class="nav-close-icon"></span></button>
    <div aria-live="polite" class="sr-only"><!----></div>
    <ul role="listbox" tabindex="-1" data-cy="search-options" aria-label="Search Options" class="nav-dropdown-menu nav-dropdown-search">
      <li role="presentation" class="active"><a role="option" tabindex="0" data-cy="menuitem-freelancers-button" data-is-menu-item="" target="_self" aria-selected="true"><span icon-name="user" size="" aria-hidden="true" class="up-s-nav-icon"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 14 14" aria-hidden="true" role="img"><path d="M7 8c-3.314 0-6 1.85-6 3.297v2.027c0 .373.358.676.8.676h10.4c.442 0 .8-.303.8-.676v-2.027C13 9.85 10.314 8 7 8zm3-5a3 3 0 11-6 0 3 3 0 016 0z"></path></svg></span> <span class="nav-search-catalog-option">
              Talent
            </span> <!----> <span class="nav-search-catalog-query-type">
              Hire professionals and agencies
            </span></a></li>
      <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="option" tabindex="0" data-cy="menuitem-projects-button" data-is-menu-item="" target="_self" aria-selected="false"><span icon-name="project" size="" aria-hidden="true" class="up-s-nav-icon"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 14 14" width="14" height="14" role="img"><path d="M11.667 1.273h-2.8C8.6.509 7.867 0 7 0S5.4.51 5.133 1.273h-2.8C1.6 1.273 1 1.845 1 2.545v10.182c0 .7.6 1.273 1.333 1.273h9.334C12.4 14 13 13.427 13 12.727V2.545c0-.7-.6-1.272-1.333-1.272zM7 1.273c.4 0 .667.254.667.636S7.4 2.545 7 2.545s-.667-.254-.667-.636.267-.636.667-.636zM3 12V3h1v1.824h6V3h1v9H3z"></path> <rect width="6" height="1" x="4" y="6"></rect> <rect width="6" height="1" x="4" y="8"></rect> <rect width="6" height="1" x="4" y="10"></rect></svg></span> <span class="nav-search-catalog-option">
              Projects
            </span> <!----> <span class="nav-search-catalog-query-type">
              Buy pre-defined projects
            </span></a></li>
      <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="option" tabindex="0" data-cy="menuitem-jobs-button" data-is-menu-item="" target="_self" aria-selected="false"><span icon-name="briefcase-hire" size="" aria-hidden="true" class="up-s-nav-icon"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 14 14" width="14" height="14" role="img"><path d="M13.51 3a.5.5 0 01.491.51v8.98c0 .282-.22.51-.498.51H.499a.504.504 0 01-.498-.51V3.51c0-.282.215-.51.49-.51H4V1.45s.067-.451.407-.449c1.748.006 3.496.007 5.245-.001.34-.002.348.45.348.45V3h3.51zM5 3h4V2H5v1zm4.253 2L6.067 9.357l-1.63-1.21L3.5 9.265l2.899 2.152 4.101-5.61L9.253 5z"></path></svg></span> <span class="nav-search-catalog-option">
              Jobs
            </span> <!----> <span class="nav-search-catalog-query-type">
              Apply to jobs posted by clients
            </span></a></li>
    </ul>
  </div>
</form>

Name: wf-form-Talent-Form — POST https://null

<form id="wf-form-Talent-Form" name="wf-form-Talent-Form" data-name="Talent Form" action="https://null" method="post" class="search-form-3-0">
  <div class="form-label-3-0">Upwork Component</div>
</form>

GET /search/profiles/

<form action="/search/profiles/" method="GET" role="search" aria-label="Form"><input type="hidden" name="nbs" value="1" autocomplete="off"> <input autocomplete="off" type="search" name="q" data-cy="search-input" placeholder="Search"
    aria-label="Search" class="nav-search-catalog-input is-clear">
  <div class="nav-dropdown nav-search-catalog-btns nav-d-flex"><button data-cy="search-clear-button" aria-label="Reset Input" type="reset" class="nav-btn-icon nav-search-catalog-clear" style="display: none;"><span icon-name="close-circle" size=""
        aria-hidden="true" class="up-s-nav-icon"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 14 14" aria-hidden="true" role="img">
          <path d="M11.207 9.793l-1.414 1.414L7 8.414l-2.793 2.793-1.414-1.414L5.586 7 2.793 4.207l1.414-1.414L7 5.586l2.793-2.793 1.414 1.414L8.414 7l2.793 2.793zM7 0a7 7 0 100 14A7 7 0 007 0z"></path>
        </svg></span></button> <button type="submit" aria-label="Search" class="nav-btn-icon"><span icon-name="search" size="" aria-hidden="true" class="up-s-nav-icon"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 14 14" width="14" height="14"
          role="img">
          <path d="M13.65 12L10.4 8.75A5.64 5.64 0 0 0 5.66 0a5.67 5.67 0 1 0 3.1 10.4L12 13.66a1.15 1.15 0 0 0 1.64 0 1.16 1.16 0 0 0 0-1.65zM5.66 9.55a3.89 3.89 0 1 1 .01-7.78 3.89 3.89 0 0 1 0 7.78z"></path>
        </svg></span></button> <button type="button" data-cy="search-switch-button" aria-expanded="false" aria-label="Switch search source" class="nav-btn-icon"><span icon-name="dropdown-caret" size="xs" aria-hidden="true"
        class="up-s-nav-icon nav-caret nav-caret-sm"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 14 14" width="14" height="14" role="img">
          <path d="M.37,5l5.75,5.92a1.23,1.23,0,0,0,1.78,0L13.64,5a1.31,1.31,0,0,0,0-1.83,1.27,1.27,0,0,0-.86-.37H1.25A1.27,1.27,0,0,0,0,4v0A1.28,1.28,0,0,0,.37,5Z"></path>
        </svg></span></button> <button type="button" data-cy="search-close" aria-label="Close Search" class="nav-btn-icon nav-search-catalog-close align-items-center nav-d-lg-none is-alone"><span class="nav-close-icon"></span></button>
    <div aria-live="polite" class="sr-only"><!----></div>
    <ul role="listbox" tabindex="-1" data-cy="search-options" aria-label="Search Options" class="nav-dropdown-menu nav-dropdown-search">
      <li role="presentation" class="active"><a role="option" tabindex="0" data-cy="menuitem-freelancers-button" data-is-menu-item="" target="_self" aria-selected="true"><span icon-name="user" size="" aria-hidden="true" class="up-s-nav-icon"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 14 14" aria-hidden="true" role="img"><path d="M7 8c-3.314 0-6 1.85-6 3.297v2.027c0 .373.358.676.8.676h10.4c.442 0 .8-.303.8-.676v-2.027C13 9.85 10.314 8 7 8zm3-5a3 3 0 11-6 0 3 3 0 016 0z"></path></svg></span> <span class="nav-search-catalog-option">
              Talent
            </span> <!----> <span class="nav-search-catalog-query-type">
              Hire professionals and agencies
            </span></a></li>
      <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="option" tabindex="0" data-cy="menuitem-projects-button" data-is-menu-item="" target="_self" aria-selected="false"><span icon-name="project" size="" aria-hidden="true" class="up-s-nav-icon"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 14 14" width="14" height="14" role="img"><path d="M11.667 1.273h-2.8C8.6.509 7.867 0 7 0S5.4.51 5.133 1.273h-2.8C1.6 1.273 1 1.845 1 2.545v10.182c0 .7.6 1.273 1.333 1.273h9.334C12.4 14 13 13.427 13 12.727V2.545c0-.7-.6-1.272-1.333-1.272zM7 1.273c.4 0 .667.254.667.636S7.4 2.545 7 2.545s-.667-.254-.667-.636.267-.636.667-.636zM3 12V3h1v1.824h6V3h1v9H3z"></path> <rect width="6" height="1" x="4" y="6"></rect> <rect width="6" height="1" x="4" y="8"></rect> <rect width="6" height="1" x="4" y="10"></rect></svg></span> <span class="nav-search-catalog-option">
              Projects
            </span> <!----> <span class="nav-search-catalog-query-type">
              Buy pre-defined projects
            </span></a></li>
      <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="option" tabindex="0" data-cy="menuitem-jobs-button" data-is-menu-item="" target="_self" aria-selected="false"><span icon-name="briefcase-hire" size="" aria-hidden="true" class="up-s-nav-icon"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 14 14" width="14" height="14" role="img"><path d="M13.51 3a.5.5 0 01.491.51v8.98c0 .282-.22.51-.498.51H.499a.504.504 0 01-.498-.51V3.51c0-.282.215-.51.49-.51H4V1.45s.067-.451.407-.449c1.748.006 3.496.007 5.245-.001.34-.002.348.45.348.45V3h3.51zM5 3h4V2H5v1zm4.253 2L6.067 9.357l-1.63-1.21L3.5 9.265l2.899 2.152 4.101-5.61L9.253 5z"></path></svg></span> <span class="nav-search-catalog-option">
              Jobs
            </span> <!----> <span class="nav-search-catalog-query-type">
              Apply to jobs posted by clients
            </span></a></li>
    </ul>
  </div>
</form>

Name: wf-form-Talent-Form — POST https://null

<form id="wf-form-Talent-Form" name="wf-form-Talent-Form" data-name="Talent Form" action="https://null" method="post" class="search-form-3-0">
  <div class="form-label-3-0">Upwork Component</div>
</form>

Text Content

Find Talent
Post a job and hire a pro
Talent Marketplace
Browse and buy projects
Project Catalog
Let us find you the right talent
Talent Scout
Talent Marketplace™

Learn about working with talent or explore your specific hiring needs.

This will lead you to link mentioned above
Learn more
Development & IT
Admin & Customer Support
Design & Creative
Finance & Accounting
Sales & Marketing
Writing & Translation
Engineering & Architecture
HR & Training
Legal
See all specializations
Project Catalog™

Browse and buy projects that have a clear scope and price.

See all categories
This will lead you to link mentioned above
Logo Design
Social Media Marketing
Articles & Blog Posts
Video Editing
WordPress
SEO
Talent Scout™

Learn how our recruiters find you expert developers, designers, and marketers.

Learn more
Click here to learn more about talent scout
Development & IT
Design & Creative
Marketing
Find Work
Ways to earn

Learn why upwork has the right opportunities for you.

Find work for your skills

Explore the kind of work available in your field.

Ways to earn

Learn how to get started as an independent professional or dive into your field
of expertise.

Learn more
Development & IT
Design & Creative
Sales & Marketing
Writing & Translation
Admin & Customer Support
Finance & Accounting
See all specializations
Why Upwork
Success Stories

Discover how teams work strategically and grow together.

Reviews

See what it’s like to collaborate on Upwork.

How to hire

Learn about the different ways to get work done.

How to find work

Learn about how to grow your independent career.

Where work gets done
Guides
Getting Started as a Freelancer

Guides
Growing Your Freelance Career

Guides
Hiring & Working with Independent Talent

See More

Enterprise
 * Talent Hire professionals and agencies
 * Projects Buy pre-defined projects
 * Jobs Apply to jobs posted by clients

Upwork Component
Searching...

 * Talent Hire professionals and agencies
 * Projects Buy pre-defined projects
 * Jobs Apply to jobs posted by clients

Upwork Component
Searching...

Log In
 * Talent Hire professionals and agencies
 * Projects Buy pre-defined projects
 * Jobs Apply to jobs posted by clients

Upwork Component
Searching...

Find Talent
Post a job and hire a pro
Talent Marketplace
Talent Marketplace™

Learn about working with talent or explore your specific hiring needs. Learn
more Click here to learn more about talent marketplace

Development & IT
Design & Creative
Sales & Marketing
Writing & Translation
Admin & Customer Support
Finance & Accounting
Engineering & Architecture
HR & Training
Legal
See all specializations
Browse and buy projects
Project Catalog
Project Catalog ™

Browse and buy projects that have a clear scope and price. See all categories.

Logo Design
Social Media Marketing
Articles & Blog Posts
Video Editing
WordPress
SEO
See all categories
Let us find you the right talent
Talent Scout
Talent Scout™

Learn how our recruiters find you expert developers, designers, and marketers.
Learn more Click here to learn more about talent scout.

Development & IT
Design & Creative
Marketing
Find Work
Ways to earn

Learn how to get started as an independent professional.

Find work for your skills

Explore the kind of work available in your field.

Ways to earn

Learn how to get started as an independent professional or dive into your field
of expertise. Learn more

Development & IT
Admin & Customer Support
Design & Creative
Finance & Accounting
Sales & Marketing
See all specializations
Writing & Translation
Why Upwork
Success Stories
Reviews
How to hire
How to find work
Where work gets done
Guides
Getting Started as a Freelancer

Guides
Growing Your Freelance Career

Guides
Hiring & Working with Independent Talent


See More
Enterprise

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About Us


View results by
all functional areas
Customer Support
Development
IT and networking
Marketing
all functional areas

or
all company sizes
<50 employees
50-200 employees
201-1,000 employees
>1,000 employees
all company sizes

December 2021


LABOR MARKET
TRENDS AND INSIGHTS

View results by
all functional areas
Customer Support
Development
IT and networking
Marketing
All functional areas

or
all company sizes
<50 employees
50-200 employees
201-1,000 employees
>1,000 employees
All company sizes


Customer Support Code



IT and Networking Code



Marketing Code



Development Code



<50 code



50-200 Code



201-1000 Code



>1000 Code



Code Reset 1



Code Reset 2



ClickTransfer Code

Labor market trends at a glance

4.2%
Unemployment rate
(November 2021)
11.0 million
Job openings
(October 2021)
68%
Companies hiring in
the next 6 months
78%
Companies that
use remote freelancers
37%
Workers who
are fully remote


UPWORK CHIEF ECONOMIST ADAM OZIMEK ON THE CURRENT LABOR MARKET

Despite the inconsistency between the impressive growth in the household survey
and disappointing number in the business survey, it seems the economy is still
recovering at a decent clip. Looking beyond this report to the wider economy,
there is no reason for job growth to have slowed down. There are plenty of job
openings, the factors that have kept people out of the labor force are fading,
and while the Omicron variant may slow recovery eventually, this data is too
early to have been affected. Overall, however, these confusing signals indicate
that we still have a labor market with a long way to go until it is recovered.


Hiring trendsRemote work trendsThe use of
freelancersTurnoverProductivityBusiness confidence


HIRING TRENDS




COMPANIES
ARE STAFFING UP


68%
of companies plan to hire in the next 6 months.


MIDSIZE COMPANIES ARE STAFFING UP THE MOST


78%
of midsize¹ companies plan to hire in the next 6 months. Just 40% of very small
companies² plan to hire over that time.


HIRING IS STRONGEST AMONG IT AND NETWORKING TEAMS


82%
of companies plan to hire in the next 6 months.


HIRING IS DIFFICULT


36%
of managers said it’s hard to find talent for administrative support roles

82%
of managers said it’s hard to find talent for customer support roles.



MIDSIZE COMPANIES ARE

STAFFING UP THE MOST


19%
of companies plan to hire in the next 6 months. Just 40% of small companies plan
to hire over that time.
¹
201-1,000 employees
²
<50 employees



EXPERIENCE LEVEL MANAGERS 
ARE LOOKING TO HIRE

51%
Mid Level
44%
Senior Level
29%
Entry Level
23%
Executive Level


EXPERIENCE LEVEL MANAGERS ARE LOOKING TO HIRE IN ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT

63%
Mid Level
44%
Senior Level
29%
Entry Level
23%
Executive Level


DATA SCIENCE AND ANALYTICS ARE THE HARDEST ROLES TO FILL

Percentage of managers who said it’s hard to find talent for the following
roles:

Compare to Roles in Demand

Data Science and Analytics

Finance

Accounting

Operations

HR

Web, Mobile and Software Development

Design and Creative

Marketing

Sales

IT and Networking

Architecture and Engineering

Writing and Content

Admin Support

Customer Support

Merchandising


0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
Roles in demand
Difficulty hiring


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ON THE LARGEST NETWORK
OF INDEPENDENT
PROFESSIONALS

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REMOTE
WORK TRENDS



Companies plan to scale back
remote work options post pandemic
Today
37%
21%
43%
27%
21%
51%
In the Next
12 Months
28%
20%
52%
In the Next
5 Years
Fully Remote
Hybrid
Fully On-Site
Very small companies are embracing remote work the most


IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS


33%
of very small companies expect to be fully remote


IN THE NEXT 5 YEARS


34%
expect to be fully remote


WORKERS DON’T WANT TO GO BACK TO THE OFFICE

Only 24%

of workers are excited about returning to the office. Those who are back in the
office already are the ones most likely to be excited about the decision.

24%

of workers who are not excited would be willing to take a pay cut to work
remotely. An additional 35% would consider it.

34%

of workers who were remote during the pandemic are not excited about returning
to the office.

17%

of those working remotely during the pandemic would probably or definitely
consider looking for another job if they have to go back to the office. This
represents 9 million workers.


THE USE
OF FREELANCERS




WORKERS ARE TURNING TO FREELANCING

20% of Americans are considering freelancing. Among those, 73% cite the ability
to work remote or flexibly as a reason why.

Those considering freelancing—10 million people—would represent a significant
17% increase in the total freelance workforce when compared to the 57 million
people who freelanced in all of 2019.


COMPANIES ARE RELYING MORE ON REMOTE FREELANCERS TODAY THAN 1 YEAR AGO


HAVE USED
REMOTE FREELANCERS


78%


HAVE USED MORE
REMOTE FREELANCERS


52%


COMPANIES WILL RELY ON REMOTE FREELANCERS EVEN MORE IN THE FUTURE


IN THE
NEXT 6 MONTHS


45%
plan to use more remote freelancers


IN THE
NEXT 2 YEARS


47%
plan to use more remote freelancers


PERCENTAGE OF COMPANIES THAT PLAN TO USE MORE REMOTE FREELANCERS IN THE FUTURE

50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%

20%
25%
In the next 6 months
22%
25%
In the next 2 years
Significantly more
Somewhat more


MIDSIZE COMPANIES WILL RELY ON REMOTE FREELANCERS THE MOST


IN THE NEXT 6 MONTHS


59%
plan to use more remote freelancers


IN THE NEXT 2 YEARS


60%
plan to use more remote freelancers


PERCENTAGE OF WORK DONE BY REMOTE FREELANCERS


19%
of marketing work is done
by remote freelancers


PERCENTAGE OF WORK DONE BY REMOTE FREELANCERS


19%
of marketing work is done by remote freelancers
19%
of marketing work is done by remote freelancers


THE AMOUNT OF WORK DONE BY REMOTE FREELANCERS IS HIGHEST IN TECH ROLES

Percentage of work done by freelancers:

IT and Networking

Web, Mobile and Software Development

Architecture and Engineering

Data Science and Analytics

Design and Creative

Finance

Marketing

Merchandising

Writing and Content

Accounting

Admin Support

Sales

Customer Support

Operations

HR


0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%


REMOTE FREELANCERS CAN HELP COMPANIES RESPOND TO DISRUPTION

54%

of managers who have engaged remote
freelancers are very confident in their
organization’s ability to respond to disruption.

In comparison, just 45%

of managers who have not engaged remote
freelancers are very confident in their
organization’s ability to respond to
disruption.


USE A TALENT STRATEGY THAT LEVERAGES INDEPENDENT PROFESSIONALS

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TURNOVER




TURNOVER HAS INCREASED SINCE THE PANDEMIC


50%

OF MANAGERS SAID TURNOVER WITHIN THEIR TEAM HAS INCREASED COMPARED TO BEFORE THE
COVID-19 PANDEMIC.




TURNOVER IS GREATEST
AMONG MIDSIZE COMPANIES

60%

of managers at midsize companies have seen
higher turnover compared to pre-pandemic levels.

Just 25%

of managers at small companies have seen
higher turnover.


MANAGERS TAKING STEPS TO RETAIN KEY STAFF

88% of managers are taking steps to retain key members of their team.
These are the steps they're taking:


Focused on strengthening team culture

Offered benefits that allow for greater flexibility

Increased salaries

Provided coaching and training opportunities

Added staff


0%
20%
40%
60%


PRODUCTIVITY




62% OF MANAGERS HAVE CHANGED HOW THEY MEASURE WORKER PRODUCTIVITY AS A RESULT OF
THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.


HERE’S HOW THEIR VIEWS HAVE CHANGED:

Same Amount of Focus
More Focus
Less Focus
51%
33%
16%
Working Traditional
Business Hours
50%
37%
13%
Number of Hours
Worked per Week
49%
44%
7%
Quality of Work
49%
43%
8%
Quantity of Work
53%
40%
7%
Ability to
Meet Deadlines
Same Amount of Focus
More Focus
Less Focus


BUSINESS CONFIDENCE




MANAGERS ARE CONFIDENT IN THEIR ABILITY TO HIRE

01

75%

are confident in their ability to find and hire the talent they need.
Those who engaged more remote freelancers in the past 12 months

are much more confident in their ability to hire than those who engaged fewer
remote freelancers (81% vs. 58%).


MANAGERS ARE CONFIDENT
THEY CAN RETAIN KEY WORKERS

02

80%

are confident in their ability to retain critical team members.


MANAGERS HAVE THE RESOURCES THEY NEED

03

80%

are confident they have the resources needed to meet objectives.


MANAGERS HAVE THE SKILLS THEY NEED ON THEIR TEAM

04

83%

have the skills among their team members that they need to meet their
objectives.

But full confidence is elusive.

Managers in IT and networking and web, mobile, and software development are the
most confident across all 4 categories.
‍
Managers in marketing are the least confident across all 4 categories.
Only 16%

of managers are “fully confident,” meaning they are very confident in all 4
categories above.


METHODOLOGY

Research was conducted by independent research firm ClearlyRated. Survey data is
used to understand hiring trends and sentiments among hiring managers. More than
1,000 U.S. hiring managers were surveyed through a third-party, independent
online sample between June 24, 2021 and July 21, 2021. Overall margin of error
of ±3.06% at 95% confidence level.

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