Older freelancers in demand as businesses adapt globally

New research has revealed that companies worldwide are increasingly turning to older freelancers to bridge employment gaps and bring in specialised expertise.

The State of Freelance Work Report, produced by Remote, surveyed 1,900 employers and 3,330 freelancers worldwide to better understand how freelancers are being utilised in the modern workforce. Findings show that 91% of companies have either maintained or increased their use of freelancers over the past three years, while almost half of these businesses are relying on freelancers to supplement their in-house teams.

Significantly, the report highlighted a growing trend of employing older freelancers, with 45% of companies reporting an uptick in the number of freelancers aged 55 and over engaged in their projects. When questioned, 43% of respondents expressed a preference for older freelancers due to perceived professionalism and reliability concerns with younger talent.

The demand for older freelancers varies across different regions. In North America, individuals over 55 are primarily contracted for consulting and advisory capacities, especially in finance and healthcare sectors. Conversely, in Europe, particularly Germany and the UK, older freelancers are more commonly found in technical and creative roles.

Across all age groups, engineering and IT remain the sectors most in demand, with 37% of companies seeking outside expertise, followed closely by creative roles at 34%, customer support at 32%, and marketing and public relations at 31%.

The report also delved into motivations for pursuing freelance work, noting that autonomy, supplemental income, and flexible work arrangements were key drivers. For freelancers in the United States and Germany, autonomy is the top priority, whereas UK workers are more motivated by the potential to increase their income. Notably, only 7% of freelancers expressed intentions to return to traditional employment, citing stable income as their primary consideration.

Challenges remain for freelancers, particularly surrounding timely compensation. Despite their significant role in contemporary business operations, 32% of freelancers reported experiencing late payments, a rate significantly higher than the 24% among full-time or part-time employees. This issue contributes to financial stress for freelancers, with 28% of them indicating severe financial pressure due to delayed payments.

Pedro Barrod, SVP and General Manager Contractors at Remote, commented on these findings, stating, "The use of freelance staff is a global phenomenon, and all the evidence points to numbers increasing in the coming years." He continued, "However, many companies do not have the structure, process, or tools to manage their freelance staff effectively, leading not only to issues for businesses but also for freelancers, who are relying on being classified, managed and paid correctly and on time."

In response to the increasing reliance on freelance talent, Remote has introduced the Remote Contractor of Record, a service designed to help businesses engage and remunerate global contractors effectively, ensuring compliance and reducing administrative and compliance burdens.