Changing dynamics in the Indian freelancing community

By Rohit Kulkarni Freelancing, especially in the Indian workplace, usually means ‘second best’. When Indian employers, or even employees, think of freelancers, they often think of casual, temporary, or part time employees. Students or parents who want to work from home can freelance to generate a surplus income. Freelancing is no longer what it once was – a profession that a person undertook when he or she was out of options. The internet has changed the world into a global village. It has greatly impacted communication by enabling individuals to connect easily and quickly. Through online workplaces, professionals are now able to work when and where they choose, and on projects they want to work on. Over time, Indian consumers have accepted freelancing as a serious profession and have started treating it as a career, rather than an alternative. Gone are the days when freelancing was considered a part time job or as a short term solution to a work life. Today, the freelance economy as a whole is a major contributor to the global GDP. With international payment systems connecting remotely located markets, employers are increasingly looking for niche-specific skills.  The outlook and demand for freelancers across domains is brighter than ever, and India is a significant part of this economic shift. With over 1 million freelancers who contribute $400 billion to the national GDP, the Indian freelancing industry cannot be ignored. The Indian freelance scenario has undergone massive changes in terms of the way a freelancer is perceived in the eyes of the society. This freedom has given birth to new types of alternative career choices and has established a ground for a flexible workforce which is nimble enough to drive results with minimal friction. It has also allowed people to break away from the conventional definition of a job and work without being a part of any formal organization. International companies have long since outsourced their services and operations to Indian companies, but the trend is now shifting to subcontracting the same work to Indian individuals/freelancers. This has enabled freelancers to build their own set of clientele across the globe. As a result, freelancers are more empowered, and are aware of the possibilities and opportunities they possess as an individual in the global marketplace. Additionally, constant evolution of technology has also contributed to the growth of freelance culture in India. It has enabled an individual to work independently of an organization by allowing him to be mobile and in control of his ‘work hours’. Interestingly, India has the fastest growing startup ecosystem and the third highest number of technology-driven startups worldwide, trailing behind only the US and the UK. The top five in-demand skills for freelancers in India in 2016 are: Cloud and Distributed Computing Content Marketing User Interface Design Graphics Design Digital and Online Marketing India’s startup ecosystem is growing, the demand and affinity for contractual hiring is on the rise, the number of Internet and Mobile users is skyrocketing, and the latent workforce of women is ready to make their mark. Undoubtedly, the next few years are going to be transformative for the freelancing ecosystem in India. The author is Country Manager, Payoneer India.