Impact of COVID-19 on freelancers who have lost work during the crisis. Freelancers can take steps to ensure they have a successful long-term career in the freelancing job.
The coronavirus pandemic has had a major impact on the freelancing job market. Freelancing jobs have been hit hard by the pandemic with many freelancers losing work and income due to the economic downturn caused by the virus. Freelancers who are dependent on clients have seen a significant drop in work as businesses have had to cut back on expenses and limit their spending. This has resulted in fewer freelance opportunities and lower wages.
The Impact of COVID-19
The recent controversy about a practice of making “certifications” that claimed to show proof that a person had managed their financial affairs for an extended period of time—usually 15 years—to demonstrate that they were financially independent as a freelancer and not dependent on a main-income earner has greatly increased the awareness of the fact that a person might be subject to COVID-19 if they had employment. While the issue has a little immediate impact on freelancers who have not been affected by the foreclosure crisis, the impact on freelancers who have been affected is more pronounced and more detrimental.
The pandemic has also resulted in companies shifting to remote working, which is great news for freelancers who are adept at working remotely. However, the remote work trend has also led to increased competition as more people have taken to freelancing to supplement their income. This has resulted in a decrease in wages for some freelancers as demand for their services is not as high.
Furthermore, some freelancers have had to adjust their services to meet the changing needs of their clients. For example, freelancers who offer virtual assistance may have had to learn new skills to keep up with remote working trends.
The Impact of COVID-19 on Freelancing Job
Is Freelancing Job Worth the Risk of COVID-19? Recently, Colorado suffered devastating wildfires. The Yampa, Carlton Complex and High Park fire in Northwest Colorado resulted in the evacuation of about 1,000 people. Many of the evacuees are freelancers who have lost their jobs or have not been able to find work due to the disaster. They live in rural communities and lack insurance to cover damage due to their participation in the ‘internet economy.’ What does it take for the ‘internet economy’ to thrive when such disasters occur? In the short term, the problem is increased government regulation and the lack of affordable insurance.
Overall, the pandemic has had a significant impact on freelancing jobs and the freelance economy, but there are still opportunities for freelancers who are quick to adapt and willing to learn new skills.
Strategies for Freelancers to Survive COVID-19
RE-Imagining Workplace Agreements and Relationship Design to Ensure Intellectual Property (IP) is Covered The Impact of COVID-19 on the Personal Brand of Freelancers: Developing Personal Branding and Business Presence Note: The following content is an excerpt from the recently published eBook, How to Survive COVID-19 (also titled Freelancing, in the Wake of the Pension Changes, 2018) available from Medium. Freelancers already feel vulnerable, having recently lost their security deposits and benefits due to the Ontario Pension Change and Ontario’s Fight for $15 and Fairness. Freelancers in Ontario who have already lost work will be the worst affected. Freelancers in all other provinces and Canada are at risk. If you are a freelancer, this means your job security is in jeopardy.
Conclusion
Over 80% of workers in the US freelance. It is a way to gain control over your work life while also being able to work on your own terms. As the freelance workforce continues to grow in the US, managing a career as a freelancer becomes more popular, yet only around 16% of freelancers are fully comfortable with the way they are living and working today. For this reason, the Center for Economic and Policy Research, in conjunction with the Freelancers Union, surveyed more than 3,600 workers who were predominantly independent or semi-independent workers. They looked specifically at what impact the government shutdown had on these people and the impacts on their health, finances, and overall well-being.