The game has changed and the rule book has gone out the window. We’re talking about the freelance industry and the associated technology that has made global employment possible also means that punching a timeclock at your local job is no longer necessary. According to a late 2017 article from Forbes magazine, it’s predicted that freelance jobs will make up the majority of employment as early as 2027. This possibility is tied to the fact that the freelance sector would have to continue growing on its current trajectory, but that seems quite likely. Per the article, there were 57.3 million self-proclaimed freelancers in the U.S. last year and that’s up from 53 million in 2014.

“That means 36 percent of the U.S. workforce has freelanced this year,” the article states. “Meanwhile, the U.S. workforce grew from 156 million to 160 million in the same timeframe, reflecting just 2.6 percent growth.” Get the picture? Freelance jobs are not only going to become the new norm; they could represent 50.9 percent of the American economy in less than a decade. In a recent study of 6,000 workers, 29 percent of respondents also noted that freelance jobs are their “sole source of income.” This full-time reality for freelance jobs means the gig that was once a side project is now a way to earn a living.

Why freelance? That’s a fair question coming from anyone who has never experienced the freedom it allows. While it typically means that you can ditch the Monday-through-Friday commute to and from work, it also allows you to set your own hours. Not a morning person? No problem. Start and end your day as you see fit and you’ll still complete the short-term contract-based work on time and get paid. Don’t like your boss? As a freelancer, you’ll be knocking out projects left and right so you’ll meet a whole host of personalities. In fact, you are your own boss when you’re a freelancer so if something doesn’t jive with one client after completion of a task, just opt not to work with them again. According to Forbes, those who responded to the study said that they were averaging about 36 hours of freelance work each week. Given that the American worker typically clocks around 37.5 to 40 hours of weekly work, the income from freelance jobs is going to be about equal to that of an in-office employer. However, as we established above, you’ll be saving money by not paying for gas, tolls, car maintenance and eating out for lunch every day.

We encourage you to check this website often for new news about this growing sector and ways to find real freelance jobs online. It’s an economy that’s on the rise and many readers may be surprised to learn that they already have the skills required to market themselves as full or part-time freelancers.