A genuine source of development and competitive advantage in the marketplace, the digitalization of companies is becoming increasingly important, particularly since the pandemic.

Indeed, companies have been forced to rethink the way they work, and have realized the importance of rapidly adapting to this digital transformation: videoconferencing, e-mail exchanges, collaboration platforms and so on.

In short, digital transformation has created new ways of working.

The number of freelancers in France in 2021 will be 3.2 million, and rising, according to Statista. In the shadow of the pandemic, the freelance market has grown significantly in many countries, including France. This growth is mainly driven by the younger generation currently freelancing. This figure is higher than that of any other generation, according to Adam Warner’s Website Planet.

Why do the French go independent?

Clear motivations

For the French, the motivations are very clear: they aspire to autonomy and flexibility. As well as being attracted by the freedom to organize their time, this status enables them to better reconcile their private and professional lives. Becoming self-employed can also be seen as a way to better manage stress, by being able to take control of their working environment and pace.

Balanced work

According to a study by UpWork, 77% of full-time freelancers feel they have a better work-life balance now that they are self-employed. They also claim to have more time to devote to their loved ones and hobbies.

As a result, 80% of freelancers admit to being in a better mood and therefore more productive at work, thanks to the freedom they find thanks to this status. On the other hand, 63% feel more anxious when faced with new responsibilities.

Being able to vary assignments and customers, and choose their customers and partners are also among the motivations of the French.

When it comes to remuneration, freelancers are free to charge whatever rates they see fit, depending on their sector of activity and provided they respect the average daily rate for the market. The average hourly wage for freelancers in 170 countries is €15.

Most of them worldwide (57%) earn less than €12 per hour, and only 14% earn more than €24 per hour. Although these figures may seem derisory, they can vary widely depending on a number of factors, such as country of origin, mother tongue, area of expertise and level of experience.

Companies love freelancing

These days, companies are turning more and more to freelancers. Here are some of the reasons why they choose them.

Greater flexibility

Unlike employees on fixed-term or permanent contracts, freelancers have a high degree of availability, which facilitates the recruitment process without the need for a major commitment on the part of the company. What’s more, freelancers are also perfectly suited to telecommuting, as they can work wherever they are.

Quality work

Calling on a freelancer offers the virtual assurance of benefiting from the services of a professional with advanced knowledge of his or her trade. Freelancers are unique in their ability to deliver quality services.

The choice of freelance status has always been voluntary. With the profound transformation of the nature of work and its reorganization under the impact of new technologies, many people will be led in the course of their working lives to practice their activity(ies) under a variety of statuses, and possibly to carry out several activities simultaneously, as “slasheurs” do. Finally, the steady rise in the number of freelancers leads us to an important fact: by 2025, 30% of French workers will be freelancers.