New research from insurance provider Hiscox has found that “freelance graphic designer” is the most used online search term for freelance roles in the UK. According to the research, roles within the creative sector are the most popular searched for roles, with the terms “writer” and “photographer” also featuring in the top five.
Isha Patel from Hiscox said: “The self-employed market is a vital part of the UK economy and brings with it the opportunity for a more flexible working lifestyle. What’s clear from these results is that more careers are ‘freelance viable’, but freelancers new to the self-employment workforce should take care to protect themselves against unexpected risks like client complaints, accidents or a legal issue.”
A report from freelance jobs platform PeoplePerHour found that there was a 63 per cent increase in registrations between 2019 and 2020, showing that freelancing is becoming more of a desirable career option and according to the Office for National Statistics, there were more than four million self-employed jobs in the UK as of June 2022.
The research found that the top ten most searched for freelance roles in the UK are: graphic designer, writer, copywriter, photographer, web developer, designer, accountant, social media manager, SEO and journalist.
There has also been an increase in online searches in freelancing terms associated with social media. The report found that the term “freelance social media manager” has tripled in volume since 2018.
Freelancing full time has become a popular career choice for many, however research also shows that freelancing has become a very popular “side hustle”, and freelancing as a second job now contributes to more than £72 billion to the economy, or approximately 3.6 per cent of UK GDP.
