Survey Estimates 20% of Organizations’ Work, On Average, is Carried Out by Freelancers, According to Harvard Business Review Analytic Services Report

Rhea-AI Summary

Fiverr releases findings of a report on the use of freelance workers in organizations. The report shows that 20% of work is done by freelancers, but most businesses lack a strategic approach. Fiverr launched Fiverr Business Solutions to assist medium to enterprise companies. The report highlights the need for companies to integrate freelancers into their workforce.

Positive

• Fiverr Business Solutions aims to assist medium to enterprise companies with their challenges in utilizing freelance talent.
• The report shows that 20% of work in organizations is being carried out by freelancers.
• Fiverr's CEO emphasizes the importance of integrating freelancers within the workforce to stay innovative and relevant.
• Using freelancers offers benefits such as greater agility, flexibility, and the ability to bring in new skills quickly.
• 51% of respondents believe their organization will employ more freelance workers in the future.

Negative

• None.

Despite 81% of respondents citing freelancers as important to their organization, only 38% say their organization is very effective at managing them

NEW YORK, Oct. 31, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fiverr, the company that is changing how the world works together, today released the findings of a Harvard Business Review Analytic Services Report in association with Fiverr Business Solutions. The report’s survey of 514 respondents familiar with their organization’s approach to employing freelance workers in the U.S. found that respondents estimate that 20% of their organization’s work, on average, is being carried out by freelancers. Despite freelancers’ impact on the country’s output, the report indicates that most businesses do not have a more strategic approach to using freelance talent.

This strategy gap is partly why, on August 1st, Fiverr launched Fiverr Business Solutions. Those solutions include Fiverr Enterprise, Fiverr Certified, and Fiverr Pro. Each aims to target medium to enterprise companies to assist them with their challenges as they grapple with the growing freelance movement.

“It’s crystal clear from this report that more and more medium and large businesses are taking advantage of freelance talent. This is a trajectory we have witnessed at Fiverr, and we expect it will continue,” said Micha Kaufman, Founder and CEO of Fiverr. “It is crucial for companies to have a strategy to integrate freelancers within their workforce if they want to stay innovative and relevant in the future. I’ve been a vocal proponent of the ‘CFO’ – hiring a Chief Freelance Officer. One person in charge of freelance efforts, and particularly placing that champion role in the C-Suite, can help the company capture freelancers’ full value.”

“Using freelancers has a range of benefits, from greater agility and flexibility around staffing to reducing the need for office space, to bringing in new skills quickly,” said Alex Clemente, Harvard Business Review Analytic Services (HBRAS) managing director. “One reason for the lack of a strategy around the workforce may be that most companies have no clear oversight or process around the hiring and management of freelancers.”

The HBRAS report found that:

• When considering whether to employ freelancers, the top challenge in the survey, cited by 49% of respondents, is whether their organization will find freelancers with the right skills.
• Nearly two-thirds of survey respondents (64%) agree that their organization employs freelance workers across a diverse range of roles.
• 51% of respondents agree that in the future, their organization will likely employ more freelance workers than it does now
  

The Harvard Business Review Analytic Services report on freelancers in the evolving workforce is a must-read for business leaders, HR professionals, and anyone interested in the future of work. It offers a roadmap for organizations looking to adapt and thrive in the new world of work.

Access the full report at: https://propages.fiverr.com/harvard-business-review-report 

About Harvard Business Review Analytic Services
Harvard Business Review Analytic Services is an independent commercial research unit within HBR, conducting research and comparative analysis on important management challenges and emerging business opportunities.

About Fiverr
Fiverr’s mission is to change how the world works together. We exist to democratize access to talent and to provide talent with access to opportunities so anyone can grow their business, brand, or dreams. From small businesses to Fortune 500, over 4 million customers worldwide worked with freelance talent on Fiverr in the past year, ensuring their workforces remain flexible, adaptive, and agile. With Fiverr Business Solutions, large companies can find the right talent and tools, tailored to their needs to help them thrive and grow. On Fiverr, you can find over 600 skills, ranging from programming to 3D design, digital marketing to content creation, from video animation to architecture.

Don’t get left behind - come be a part of the future of work by visiting fiverr.com, read our blog, and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

Press Contact
Siobhan Aalders
Laura Podesta
press@fiverr.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/946d4718-a013-4e7c-800e-1dcb56d08b17

FAQ

What is the purpose of Fiverr Business Solutions?

Fiverr Business Solutions aims to assist medium to enterprise companies with their challenges in utilizing freelance talent.

What percentage of work in organizations is done by freelancers?

The report shows that, on average, 20% of work in organizations is being carried out by freelancers.

What does the report emphasize regarding the use of freelancers?

The report highlights the importance of integrating freelancers within the workforce to stay innovative and relevant.

What benefits does using freelancers offer?

Using freelancers offers benefits such as greater agility, flexibility, and the ability to bring in new skills quickly.

Do respondents believe their organization will employ more freelance workers in the future?

Yes, 51% of respondents believe their organization will employ more freelance workers in the future.