If you’re a freelancer and looking to find out which skills are currently hot, it helps to look at freelance marketplace Freelancer.com. And the latest data on outsourced jobs from there reveals a huge rise in trending tech, with particular demand for 3D printing, and copywriting. The Freelance Fast 50 report analyzed over 270,000 job listings on Freelancer.com for the first quarter of 2014.
3D Is Scorching Hot
Everything connected with 3D seems to be a hot specialty right now, thanks to the Facebook acquisition of Oculus Rift, a virtual reality head-mounted display, designed for 3D gaming (among other possible uses). 3D printing. 3D modeling. 3D rendering. All things 3D saw a dramatic 48% increase in jobs.
3D printing is fast becoming the latest craze, as these printers are capable of making solid objects at the click of a button – and the downloading of the appropriate computer file. A simple Google search for 3D CAD files turns up countless possibilities, and as soon as the file is downloaded, you are all set to print.
We recently wrote about the first consumer 3D printer called Micro, which is raising funds on Kickstarter, with the total currently standing at $2.8 million. When it eventually goes on sale (perhaps in time for the 2014 Christmas shopping period), it will cost a very affordable $299, making 3D printing even more of a viable small business proposition.
Android Is Hot, Apple Is Not
Or at least …not quite as hot. The number of Android mobile development jobs has overtaken Apple jobs. Why? Partly because Android is hot in Asia, and mobile is growing there.
Mobile phone app development is strong, too. Game and app makers are obviously inspired by the phenomenal success of apps such as Flappy Bird and Candy Crush.
Content Makes a Comeback
Writing and content jobs have rebounded after declining a few years ago, in the wake of the carnage left by the Google Panda and Penguin algorithm updates.
Copywriters are being re-employed, as business owners start to regain their confidence and hire writers to write their blogs, and put original content on their websites and social media. Writing related jobs are up nearly 18%. Content is back, baby!
Companies Need Logos
Lots of other jobs show surprising growth, such as logo design (up 33%). It just goes to show, the old tried and true skills can be almost as much in demand as the trendy ones.
Image: M3D
Keith Smith
Thanks for the eye opener. I have been doing article writing and am now thinking if its time I tried my hand at copy writing.
Aira Bongco
I will have to agree with the Android part. While there is much hype when it comes to Apple products, it is quite obvious that there are more Android users than Apple users. This means that there is a greater market on Android than on Apple.
It’s good to see demand for writing-related jobs is on the increase. That’s one good knock-on effect of the Google Panda/Penguin sweep.
Aira Bongco
Oooh I like that observation. I guess, Panda and Penguin is not that bad since it increased the need for high quality content. It is really what people need after all.
The Google Panda/Penguin update was a big change for many people, especially Panda I think. But now the dust’s settled, I think it’s easier to see the good that came out of it, which is what I’m guessing Google intended (re: better quality content).
Martin Lindeskog
As a content creator (blogger) I am glad to read that “content makes a comeback”! 🙂
I hope, alongside the comeback, that it also includes quality pay. I noticed an increase in the amount of people not willing to pay a fair price for content when Panda/Penguin hit. There were people like that anyway, but I noted a widening of that. Or maybe it had nothing to do with Panda/Penguin – I could be wrong.
In any case, I hope more people are willing to pay for quality.
Mark O'Neill
Content mills such as Elance are responsible a lot of the time for low pay, as you have to bid as low as possible to get the job. But a lot of fair and responsible site owners are now recognizing that in order to get quality content, you have to pay a quality wage.
But saying that, some very nice webmasters that I know are only starting out with their sites and genuinely can’t afford to pay very much at the moment. My point being that when someone offers low pay, they aren’t necessarily bad people. They may just be going through a money crunch themselves.
I’m glad that recognition is filtering through amongst some people, Mark.
I’m not bringing good or bad into it re: those who offer low pay. What I am saying is that bills need to be paid by the service provider too. And not being able to afford a fair wage shouldn’t be the service provider’s problem.