Four Skills That Are Facing a Shortage of Freelancers in the New Economy
There is no question that a recession is looming with trade wars continuing between the largest economies, a physical war happening in Ukraine, and big tech letting staff go in alarming numbers.
We are seeing financial jobs being made redundant in the hundreds in a financial hub like Singapore even before the COVID-19 pandemic happens, and it certainly seems like no industry will be spared with JPMorgan Asset predicting a recession by year-end.
Is your job still robot-proof with artificial intelligence gaining acceptance in various industries quickly?
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Be it for personal interest, starting a sideline, or keeping yourself employable, it is time to put those free time to some good use by learning a new skill that will help you remain relevant in this new economy.
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Since a few years back, the gig economy has already been transforming the American job market with skilled workers hired by companies on a project-based basis, getting remuneration that is a few times higher than that of a regular staffed employee, making it a win-win situation for both the company & the freelancer.
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Below is a compilation of the top 4 in-demand freelance jobs in Singapore that companies are finding it difficult to hire people, and pay good money for them in return for a specific job to be done.
Digital Marketing
One of the most sought-after services for SMEs, the knowledge of digital marketing will give you that edge whether you are looking at clinching that project contract or getting a relevant role in this highly competitive job market.
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, retailers have rushed to shift their focus to selling online with the wide acceptance of buying everything from daily necessities to bicycle accessories online by consumers. The pandemic has inadvertently reshaped behaviors and hastened the adoption of online shopping by even the most resolute shoppers - the baby boomers.
The above 50s who have tried online shopping are not turning back, quickly reshaping the way brick-and-mortar players are pushing out their products.
Companies are now complaining about how difficult it is to get someone who can perform well in this field, since it wasn't really taught in-depth in universities & and polytechnics, resulting in them having to engage and pay digital agencies big bucks for their services to sell on the ultra-competitive digital landscape.
Some of the skills needed are search engine optimisation (SEO), search engine marketing (SEM), content marketing, social media marketing, etc.
Be really good at it and see yourself being in high demand for lucrative jobs easily, even during a bad economy.
Graphic Design
Upwork's recent projections highlight graphic design as the top in-demand creative skill among freelancers, considering factors like earnings and project engagement.
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Designers who have the ability to make use of multiple design software to create various kinds of creative work for clients have all along been highly sought after.
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Marketing efforts are a perpetual necessity, whether in economic downturns or booming times, ensuring an ongoing demand for the creation of marketing materials like brochures, posters, online ads, and more.
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However, with the disruption brought by technology, creativity is now something that is even more celebrated since it has the ability to help companies differentiate themselves, especially on the very crowded social media and e-commerce front.
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Also read: 5 Reasons Why You Should Start Something On The Side
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User Experience (UX) Design
Acknowledged by most designers as one of the most urgent skills to acquire, User Experience (UX) design can be commonly spotted in the job description as a criterion for companies when hiring designers in recent years.
Due to the lack of available talent in the market, companies are turning to the freelance circle, making it one of the most lucrative design gigs in Singapore.
With retail businesses increasingly losing revenue to online platforms, more and more brands are being forced to go online in order to reach out to, not only their existing customers but also to a wider group of the younger generation who are digital natives.
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The experience that one has with a brick-and-mortar shop, has to be made seamless when going online with the same brand, where more and more purchases are being made.
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This is when every design work that is produced needs to have the user's experience in mind and it is something that has to be executed with a different school of thought.
Professional Photography
In the era of social media, it's evident that high-quality content has become paramount for effectively connecting with your online target audience.
This has created a huge increase in demand for professional photographers who can capture quality photos of products that are attractive enough to make a potential customer make the purchase online in a heartbeat.
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This is coupled with the fact that these same photographers are still being engaged to do traditional work like taking photos for a restaurant menu, commercial posters, etc., creating a surge in demand for a similar pool of good photographers with such a skill.
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With demand comes better money, being paid for the same work (done well).
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Love photography and always wanted to do something on the side? There is no better time to monetise your hobby during your free time to build a strong portfolio that a client can trust their job with you in.
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Related: Get a brochure in freelance skills you can learn part-time
Looking into studying for a skill during your free time? Find out more here.
"An Investment In Knowledge Pays The Best Interest" -Benjamin Franklin
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Looking to learn a skill through project based learning so that you will be confident in executing them after the course?
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In MAD School, we engaged highly experienced practitioners to make sure our students are learning the most current skills, and learning them in depth.
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