Feedback from over 1,800 freelancers offers insight into what they want and why they work.

Freelancing continues to grow, with projections that freelancers will make up 51% of the total U.S. workforce in 2027. According to FlexJobs’ 2019 annual survey, which reached more than 1,800 freelancers, freelancers enjoy working, want to travel, and are passionate about success in their careers at much higher rates than workers who do not identify as freelancers. To demonstrate the various opportunities in the freelance job marketplace and help freelancers connect to jobs they enjoy, FlexJobs has identified the top 20 companies hiring freelancers so far in 2019. 

“With 36% of the total U.S. workforce currently freelancing, the range of freelance job opportunities has grown dramatically in the last decade,” said Sara Sutton, founder, and CEO of FlexJobs. “A variety of companies, organizations, and government agencies hire freelancers in almost every career imaginable, with jobs varying from small, temporary projects to long-term, full-time projects,” Sutton concluded.

Below are the top 20 companies, ordered from greatest to least, for the number of freelance job postings in 2019. Staffing and recruiting companies have strong representation on this list, which shows their deep involvement in the hiring process for freelance, contract, and temporary jobs. Some staffing companies are full-service hiring for a huge variety of career fields and industries, and others specialize in a particular field or group of related industries.

This list is based on an analysis of over 51,000 companies and their freelance job posting histories in the FlexJobs database between January 1, 2019, and August 31, 2019. 

1.  Kelly Services
2.  Kforce
3.  Onward Search
4.  Real Staffing
5.  Motion Recruitment Partners
6.  LanguageLine Solutions
7.  AFIRM
8.  Robert Half International
9.  CyraCom
10. Aquent
11. CSI Companies
12. System One
13. Trilogy Education Services
14. 24 Seven
15. VanderHouwen & Associates
16. Landi English
17. Addison Group
18. Dahl Consulting
19. VocoVision
20. Paladin

Additional findings about freelancers from the FlexJobs survey, conducted in July 2019:

Why Freelancers Work

•  61% of freelancers reported that they work because they enjoy working, compared to 53% of non-freelancers who report the same 
•  60% of freelancers work because they want to travel, compared to 53% of non-freelancers
•  48% of freelancers work because they are passionate about success in their career, compared to 38% of non-freelancers
•  When evaluating job opportunities, freelancers are more eager for a professional challenge (43%) than non-freelancers (34%)

Who is Freelancing

•  Freelancing appeals to older generations as well as younger generations, with respondents identifying as: Gen Z (2%) Millennial (28%) Gen X (38) Baby Boomer (25%) Silent Generation (7%)
•  Freelancers are well-educated, with 72% having at least a bachelor’s degree and 31% having a graduate degree

How Much Freelancers Work

•  The vast majority (90%) of freelancers report working three or fewer gigs at a time, with 42% only working one gig at a time

When searching for freelance jobs, there are a number of different terms for job seekers to consider. These can be used to help find freelance job openings, and describe oneself to potential clients.

•  Freelance job: A person works for themselves, rather than for a company. While freelancers do take on contract work for companies and organizations, they are ultimately self-employed
•  Contract work: Working as a temporary contract worker, rather than a permanent employee
•  Independent contractor: Work terms are specified by a contract with another company or individual, which is how the IRS classifies this type of work
•  1099: Used to describe the type of job. Refers to the IRS form an independent contractor fills out: form 1099-MISC
•  Contract consultant: Someone who is hired for temporary consultations for specific issues within a company
•  Contract-to-hire: A job that begins as a freelance, independent contractor position but has the potential to become a regular employee position if things go well