Freelance workers on the whole are working more hours than their salaried counterparts, a new survey has revealed. What else has the survey found?
Those in freelance roles appear to be working longer hours, with 46% working 41+ hours per week, compared to just 28% in permanent roles. This is in stark contrast to last year when 55% of those in permanent roles were working 41+ hours compared to 32% in freelance roles.
But are freelancers having to work more hours to juggle more projects to make ends meet? Are they getting paid more for their long hours?
The good news first
The good news is that many businesses in 2022 are enhancing their remuneration and benefits packages. This has been reflected in salary increases over the past year, with an average increase of 10.2% for permanent roles and 7.1% in freelancer day rates, according to Major Players’ 2022 salary survey.
However, not all freelancers saw a hike in their day rate. According to the survey data, 63% of those in permanent roles received a salary increase last year, compared to just under half of all freelancers receiving an increase in their day rates.
How does age come into play?
Another interesting trend revealed by the data was more people turning to freelance later in their careers within the ages of 35-44, with over a quarter choosing to do so. This increases to 37% for those aged over 45 years, highlighting desires for flexible working and increased work/life balance.
Another finding was that older freelancers were less likely to receive a salary or day rate increase. The report said that those aged 45-65+, were the least likely to receive a salary/day rate increase (44.1%) versus those aged 18-44 (58.6%).
Where is the best place to find new work?
When looking for new roles, permanent employees prefer LinkedIn (41%), Recruiter (28%) and Direct (11%), while freelancers prefer Direct (46%), LinkedIn (25%) and Recruiter (17%).
To find how salaries and trends are changing in your sector, check out the full report here.