Freelance Work Booms In Florida

By  //  May 4, 2022

Florida cities are among the fastest-growing markets for independent contractors, according to a study by freelance platform Fiverr. Topping the list was Orlando, whose freelance workforce grew by 32.8%. Miami’s freelance workforce grew by 32%, while Tampa’s workforce grew by 29%.

According to Fiverr, the top industries for independent contractors in Florida included hospitality, legal, accounting, marketing, and consulting work.

Why Florida Dominates Freelance Marketplaces

Florida is one of the seven states in the United States to lack a personal income tax. This feature makes the state appealing to independent contractors and small business owners. Without an income tax to pay, independent contractors in Florida get to keep the majority of their earnings.

Additionally, across the United States, the typical employee will have their income taxes automatically deducted from their payroll. Without employers, freelance workers become responsible for filing their own taxes. However, independent contractors living in Florida do not have to go through the confusing process of determining how much of their income they owe to the government.

Why Floridians Are Choosing Freelance Work

As the pandemic plunged the world into a financial crisis, many businesses were forced to downsize to survive. Layoffs became widespread, causing unemployment rates to soar. With the job pool growing smaller, workers needed to find new ways to generate income outside of the traditional 9 to 5.

The solution was freelance work. Even before the pandemic, the popularity of freelancing was already rising steadily. The rise of the gig economy gave workers the opportunity to make money without relying on a single employer. Independent contractors also had the freedom to pursue different job roles, which allowed them to diversify their sources of income.

The rise of freelance work can also be attributed to increased digitization. Social media and other internet platforms made freelance opportunities more visible and accessible. As the freelance landscape evolved, new platforms focused exclusively on freelance work emerged, making it easier for independent contractors to connect with clients and vice versa.

Freelance Platforms

Today, the most popular platforms for listing freelance opportunities include Fiverr, Upwork, Freelancer, and Solid Gigs. Of these platforms, Upwork and Freelancer are the most established. Both allow businesses to post job listings that independent contractors can bid on. Independent contractors pay a specific percentage of their earnings to the host platform for every job they book.

On Fiverr, freelancers themselves advertise their services. Potential clients can then search the Fiverr database for professionals with the skills and expertise their projects need.

SolidGigs differs from other freelance platforms in that it doesn’t post listings for jobs or professionals. Instead, SolidGigs searches other job marketplaces for high-quality gigs that align with each user’s skills, schedule, and needs. After users pay the designated service fee and tell the website what kind of work they are looking for, they receive a list of jobs in their inbox.

The Future Of Freelance Work

Lately, the economy of Florida has shown signs of recovery. Unemployment rates have decreased to 3.2%, while the overall labor force has grown by 325,000. Job seekers in Florida now have more opportunities available compared to previous years.

Even as the employment landscape improves and more people return to the 9 to 5, it is likely that independent contracting will remain popular, especially in states like Florida. Freelance work offers increased flexibility while offering more opportunities for generating income. In Florida, freelancing is an especially attractive option due to the lack of income tax. Lastly, platforms like Fiverr and Upwork make it easy for freelancers to find high-quality jobs.