Significant drop in freelance work amid Covid-19.

Byline: Ramsha Jahangir

KARACHI -- The global pandemic has not only affected regular jobs across the world but has also hit freelance work, as most Pakistani freelancers believe that the demand for work has decreased significantly amid Covid-19.

The opinion of these 64 per cent Pakistani freelancers that came up during a recent survey also suggests that businesses and companies have cut freelancing costs and halted any new projects or contracts.

Freelancers from over 100 countries, including emerging markets such as Pakistan, shared their insights on the impact of Covid-19 on the economic outlook for freelance services with digital payment platform, Payoneer.

Payoneer's report titled 'Freelancing during Covid-19', based on a survey of over 1,000 freelancers, showed that 64pc Pakistani freelancers - 33pc of them graphic designers - said demand for their services had greatly decreased. For 15pc freelancers, business had remained as usual, while 18pc reported that demand for their services had increased, according to the report.

Payoneer's report finds post-pandemic market highly competitive with more workers turning to freelancing

In terms reducing team size, 24pc Pakistani freelancers said they would maintain the same team or grow it while 9pc said they were cutting down on team members.

Future is competitive

While demand for freelancers appears to have slowed in the short term, many believe that it is just a matter of time until businesses get back on their feet and turn to outsourcing in order to acquire quality talent.

In Pakistan, 82pc of freelancers said that demand would increase after Covid-19.

They predicted tighter competition ahead as more workers were making the switch to freelancing, with 64pc stating that their rates remained unchanged or even increased during this period, suggesting that they felt confident that their fees were fair and attractive even in the current climate. On the other hand, 35pc freelancers said they had lowered rates.

Many respondents said they believed self-employment could eventually become more stable than full-time jobs.

'Payoneer surveyed more than a thousand freelancers and found that 53pc believe demand for their services will increase once the pandemic is over. There's already been rapid growth in new freelancers entering marketplaces,' said Scott Galit, Payoneer CEO.

Ayman Sarosh, Freelancer of the Year 2019 from Pakistan said: 'Currently businesses are moving online and freelancers...

To continue reading

Request your trial

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT