6 In-Demand, High-Paying Tech Skills For Freelancers In 2024

15 Apr 2024 by Rachel Wells · Forbes

Employers are embracing freelance talent and integrating them quickly to meet the on-demand ... [+] challenges of the tech industrygetty

Amid the skills gap, layoffs, budget and scalability constraints, and the ongoing AI tech talent war, there is one answer:

Freelancers.

Tech executives are now turning to niche-skilled freelancers as a viable solution to remaining flexible to the needs of a highly adaptive and fast-paced industry. Extremely skilled professionals performing gig work are just what employers are looking for to complete their complex projects without delays.

In a 2024 Fiverr survey of 500 tech executives across the United States, the findings revealed that Q3 (July, August, September) is the most stressful quarter of the year, with 89.7% of respondents being consequently open to hiring freelance talent to cope with the strain of business demands.

Already, nearly a third of the employers surveyed integrate freelancers into their processes daily, with 21% tapping into their freelance pool of talent every work day, while more than 30% call on the services of freelancers two to three times a week.

Even as far back as 2020, a World Economic Forum study uncovered that 43% of businesses planned to reduce their workforce due to technology integration (such as AI), while 41% plan to expand their use of contractors for task-specialized work).

It appears to be a win-win situation for freelancers and their business clients within the tech sector.

Why Are Tech Freelancers In Demand?

Tech companies are able to relieve stressed-out teams, be quickly flexible to industry challenges, and cut out the time and money that would be expended on recruiting hiring, onboarding, and training a full-time employee, while being agile enough to rapidly develop new products or services for delivery.

At the same time, freelancers who provide in-demand, high-paying technical services as a side hustle, are able to work on their own or in collaboration with a project team, while experiencing full flexibility and autonomy and the ability to set competitive rates.

If you are a top-tier freelancer, with strong expertise in your field, you have the advantage of being highly sought-after and well-recommended, which can lead to repeat clients and referrals. Building long-term relationships and trust with your business clients—tech companies—ultimately leads to more financial stability, even though you're outside of a regular 9 to 5 job.

Which Tech Skills Are In-Demand As Side Hustles?

Of course, the core question when considering what side hustles or freelance ventures are in-demand and most sought after by tech companies, is: What services and skill sets are they seeking the most from freelancers?

Research from multiple surveys and reports demonstrate that the below are highly sought-after and high-paying tech skills, and you should capitalize on these if you're a freelancer:

Data science
Data modelling
Software development
Cloud computing
Cybersecurity
Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML)

To secure the best freelance roles, you need to ensure that you truly are the cream of the crop. This is not your average side hustle. You can't afford to assume that barely enough talent and skills will make you an in-demand freelance professional.

Major employers within the tech sector are looking towards niche, specialist, top 10% freelance platforms to fill their skills gaps. And if you want to be chosen to deliver a project, you should seriously consider researching and evaluating the below freelance platforms, and evaluate their selection criteria and application process, because they're not as easy to join as Upwork, TaskRabbit, or People Per Hour.

Nonetheless, they're worth the effort:

Arc
A.Team
Fiverr Pro
Turing
Toptal

Joining top-tier talent platforms can give you a significant advantage as a freelancergetty

Develop your niche technical skills. Build your portfolio as a freelancer. Join an exclusive talent community. As a highly skilled freelancer delivering services within technology, you are the future of the technical workforce.