The nature of freelancing labour is always changing to accommodate the varying employment preferences of various generations. According to an Upwork Research Institute report from 2023, an estimated 64 million Americans—or 38% of the country’s workforce—performed freelance work in 2023, an increase of 4 million from the previous year. The yearly profits of these independent contractors brought in around $1.3 trillion for the US economy.
The number of freelance workers has always increased. The findings of a recent Upwork Research Institute Gen Z poll show that during the last 10 years, an average of one million more people have worked for themselves annually.
It also revealed that, in contrast to 44% of Millennials, 30% of Gen X, and 26% of Boomers, more than half (52%) of all Gen Z professionals polled worked as independent contractors. The fastest-growing generation of workers, known as Gen Z, is choosing freelancing as a career path rather than traditional 9–5 occupations.
According to the survey, professionals are increasingly choosing more flexible arrangements over traditional 9-to-5 work models, which is largely responsible for the growing influence of freelancing on the workforce. The data shows that professionals who want more flexibility, freedom, and career control turn to freelancing.
Generational disparities
Those who have dealt with both extremes of the freelancing workforce say that each have advantages, disadvantages, and difficulties of their own.
‘Ghosted’ by Generation Z
She noted: “I’ve been ghosted by several Gen Z freelancers, but Baby Boomers have consistently provided clear email communication and quick turnarounds on deadlines.”
“That’s not to say we haven’t employed amazing Gen Z writers who have produced outstanding articles on schedule; rather, I’ve had at least six or seven Gen Z freelancers agree to write certain pieces for us, but after that, they never responded to our numerous emails, offered no explanation, and were completely silent.”
She came to the conclusion that although she had never encountered a phenomenon like this in her more than 30 years as a professional writer and editor, she had in the last three years.
Comfortable using technology
“Our team is diverse, with members ranging from young Gen Z tech enthusiasts to seasoned professionals in their 60s; not just in terms of skill sets but also in terms of generational representation. The diverse degrees of familiarity with technology and artificial intelligence are an intriguing aspect of this wide age range,” according to an email from Rosarium PR and Marketing Collective CEO Alexis Quintal.
“My younger team members have no trouble navigating these areas naturally, but they have been less flexible and eager to pick up tips from our more experienced consultants,” the manager observed.
‘A sharp difference’
According to an email from Scott Jackson, the CEO of Jackson Creative Group and a former director of leadership and professional development at Amazon: “Working with Gen Z freelancers offers a stark contrast to collaborating with Baby Boomers.”
Gen Zers are significantly more creative than Boomers, coming up with several workable and diverse ideas that are similar to individual fingerprints. Baby Boomers, on the contrary, are more likely to stay with tried-and-true techniques, providing the status quo effectively and on schedule.
Boomers, however, provide dependable, steady answers that you can practically schedule around, but their rigidity can have a negative cultural impact at work. Jackson noted that while working with Boomer freelancers, pricing is frequently the main motivator.
Maximum adaptability
Alyssa Pfennig, CEO of marketing and branding firm Hekate Strategies, noted via email that “what I’ve found most different is that Gen Z wants ultimate flexibility in their work environment and may seem like they are not the best communicators, which is quite the opposite of Baby Boomers.”
They are still very skilled, though. She discovered that adding the younger knowledge to your team can work effectively provided you recognise the variations in work styles and let go of the notions of how things should always function.
In short, freelancing labour is evolving to meet the preferences of different generations, with Gen Z leading the charge towards more flexible work arrangements. While this shift brings creativity and adaptability, it also highlights differences in communication and work styles between generations.
Embracing these disparities and leveraging the strengths of each generation is key to success in the dynamic freelance economy.
(Tashia Bernardus)