Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

HEADLINES

Filipino freelancers ride uphill trend of gig economy – Payoneer, DICT

43.4% of Filipino freelancers have only been in the freelancing industry for less than a year while 26% have only been part of the gig economy for 1-2 years. However, despite being new in the industry, this new breed of freelancers are not just exploring the local landscape but the international scene as well.

Many Filipinos started freelancing full-time due to the pandemic. Since then, they have discovered and taken advantage of the job flexibility and earning from multiple income streams. These trends along with other key insights on the state of the gig economy in the country was discussed in the webinar held by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and Payoneer Philippines.

According to DICT’s Philippine Online Freelancing Industry Study, 43.4% of Filipino freelancers have only been in the freelancing industry for less than a year while 26% have only been part of the gig economy for 1-2 years. However, despite being new in the industry, this new breed of freelancers are not just exploring the local landscape but the international scene as well.

The study shares that 42.9% of Filipino freelancers have overseas clients. This is not surprising since according to Payoneer and GCash’s study called The Philippines Freelance Market 2022 Report, freelancers who serve both local and international clients earn 57% more per hour than those who just work with local clients. 

“The emergence of the gig economy has resulted in changes in the current workforce. With greater work-life balance and independence, freelancers were able to work with a diverse range of clients both locally and internationally.” said Payoneer Regional Vice President of South East Asia Miguel Warren during the webinar.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

Upskilling and growing your portfolio

The DICT study found that 58.78% of Filipino freelancers were skilled as virtual assistants. About 43% of the respondents claim to have social media marketing skills and 34.8% of them claim to be knowledgeable on content creation. Digital marketing, web research, customer service and tech, as well as, web development and design, online teaching and tutoring, and project management were also among the skill sets mentioned by respondents.

Nurturing skillsets has also been made easy with the wealth of information available online. In fact, 83% of Filipino freelancers self-study to improve their skills by enrolling in free online courses. Aside from a variety of educational opportunities online, there’s also plenty of job resources to choose from such as onlinejobs.ph, indeed, guru, truelancer, craigslist, flexjobs, and upwork.

As freelancing thrives on variety, especially among clientele, transactions can get a bit tricky and this is where Payoneer strives to help and empower freelancers locally and globally. “Payments haven’t always kept up as the world has become more digitally connected. There are numerous obstacles to overcome. Payoneer offers flexibility and accessibility with cross-border payments, making it easier for freelancers to be paid.” Warren noted.

Financial stability, family, and flexibility

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

When asked about the major advantages of freelancing, respondents have the following on top of the list: financial stability, more family time, personal and professional growth, flexibility, and source of additional income.

Given the many benefits of freelancing, many Filipinos now prefer this flexible livelihood option that suits their lifestyles better than traditional employment.

“When I got into it, I realized that there’s no traffic, I can work from home, I continued learning the ropes and eventually realized that I can make a career out of this,” shared new freelancer Bernadette Dias.

“With the pandemic, doing freelance work is now more acceptable and open. Many people realized that they can provide their families with their needs, as much as a traditional job but even so much better,” shared seasoned freelancer Vanya Tantoco. Tantoco is also the CEO and Founder of Z Studios Digital Marketing Agency.

Tantoco and Dias also noted that digital platforms have made it easier to find jobs and get paid. As the Philippine government continues to promote entrepreneurship and digital innovation, the study recommends that freelancing communities that foster collaboration with government agencies, LGUs, vendors, and interest groups need to be funded and supported.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Like Us On Facebook

You May Also Like

MOBILE PRODUCTS

The FROGMAN shock-resistant diver's watch is known for its asymmetric design, crafted to allow unrestricted wrist movement underwater. The MRG-BF1000R, released in 2023, brought...

HEADLINES

The latest iteration of Globe’s industry-leading 5G WiFi transforms the humble router into a collector's piece. The device now comes in two sleek base...

HEADLINES

Supported through the UK’s International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF) implemented by the British Council, the conference strengthens research and innovation ecosystems in the Philippines...

HEADLINES

The Step Juan program is designed to provide high school and university students with limited exposure to startup initiatives with accessible, beginner-friendly learning opportunities...

HEADLINES

Highlighting that 99% of registered businesses in the Philippines are MSMEs, contributing significantly to employment and the economy, foodpanda acknowledged the challenges these businesses...

HEADLINES

In 2024, The Epson International Pano Awards saw 4,529 entries submitted from 1,105 photographers across 95 countries.

HEADLINES

The company achieved several other major environmental milestones, including the use of 99 percent recycled rare earth elements in all magnets and 99 percent...

HEADLINES

The innovations, designed to enhance efficiency, sustainability, and localized support, reinforce ZTE’s commitment to accelerating digital transformation in the Philippines and across Southeast Asia.

Advertisement