Brent Lecompte Blog: Upwork: Top Freelance Skills Include Development, Content Marketing (Infographic)

Freelancers are in demand, especially those who possess good development or content marketing skills. That’s what the Upwork Skills Index, a new study conducted by freelance website Upwork has found.

The study highlights 20 skills that grew fastest in Q2 2016. The top fastest-growing skills include user experience design, ASP development, Shopify development, English proofreading and SEO writing.

The 10 fastest-growing skills all experienced more than 125 percent year-over-year growth.

Freelance Skills in Demand

It’s interesting to note that development skills account for one-third of the top 20 fastest-growing skills. Whether it’s mobile development or user experience design, developers are in higher demand than ever.

Freelancers specializing in future technologies such as data mining, MongoDB and Java are not far behind. With artificial intelligence, robotics and virtual reality technologies gaining rapid momentum, businesses are looking for freelancers who can help them get an edge.

Content marketing freelance skills are also in demand as businesses continue to look for ways to generate high-quality content and drive online sales. SEO writing, video editing and lead generation are some of the fastest-growing content marketing skills.

“We’re releasing this freelance skills data to serve as a resource for professionals, educators and policymakers,” said Upwork CEO Stephane Kasriel. “As skills gaps persist, this information can be leveraged by smart professionals who continue to educate themselves in order to capitalize on market demands. Information about emerging skill demands may also be useful for those seeking to bolster our education system and economic competitiveness.”

Pros and Cons of Hiring Freelancers

Flexibility and cost savings are the top reasons why many small businesses are opting for freelancers today. Freelancers are preferred also because they offer quick turnarounds and solid work experience.

On the flip side however, not all freelancers are reliable and it’s not uncommon for some of them to prioritize other better paying jobs. Another disadvantage is the inability to monitor their work and get revisions done on time.

Finding the right freelancer can make a big difference. It therefore makes sense to spend enough time identifying professionals who have the skills and experience to complete tasks with accountability. You should review their profiles, look for key skill sets and check out testimonials to establish their credentials.

Upwork describes itself as the world’s largest freelancing website. Headquartered in Mountain View, California, Upwork helps freelancers earn more than $1 billion annually.

The top 20 freelance skills that grew fastest in Q2 2016 are: