Digital Nomad Jobs Create New Demand

For those who can’t stand being cooped up for long, the idea of traveling the world while working so-called “digital nomad jobs” isn’t as farfetched as it may seem.

‘Digital nomads‘ work as freelance writers, artists, entrepreneurs, and more. They create startup companies and launch them from the Web or do freelance work from their laptops.

This new niche has created a demand to make things easier. Pieter Levels, entrepreneur and creator of the Panda Mix Show, has taken the first step. Levels launched Nomad List, a site that creates resources for digital nomads including apartment listings, chat rooms, job offers, and more.

Since they can do their work from anywhere with an Internet connection, traveling from country to country and cafe to cafe has become a popular choice. Nomad List points out the best places for these digital nomads to travel, using criteria like cost of living, air quality, Internet speeds and safety, Fast Company reports.

Nomads like Nina Ragusa explain the appeal of life as a digital nomad, an alternative to a more traditional work experience.  In an email interview last year, Ragusa told Small Business Trends:

“Stop talking and start doing. Life doesn’t have to only consist of sitting behind a desk for 40+ hours a week while you count your pennies to pay your bills. There are plenty of skills you can use to work and travel the world.”

Although it’s becoming easier to live on the wind, there are still some needs to be filled. Working in different countries often confuses those who don’t understand the tax policies involved. Visa issues can cause weeks of stress.

For now, nomads rely on a strong online community through conferences, a Slack community  2,500 strong and even a Subreddit, /r/digitalnomad with over 9,000 readers. As Levels tells Fast Company:

“People feel lonely on the road. You’re doing something weird, and to make it feel less lonely and weird, you need some kind of chat group.”

Image: Nomad List