26/05/2024
Upwork lists six in-demand freelance skills, one of which pays up to $250 per hour.
For those young individuals wondering what to focus on to gain traction in the job market, freelance marketplace Upwork has announced its list of the most in-demand skills for 2024.
Here are six abilities in several categories ranging from web development to admin support, along with what each requires and how much specialists charge for them on the site.
Data analytics
Data analysts look at “incredibly large and complex sets of data to derive insights that will drive the trajectory” of a business, says Margaret Lilani, vice president of talent delivery at Upwork. They use tools like Microsoft Excel, Google Spreadsheet, SQL and Tableau.
“The technology is new and it’s evolving at a crazy pace,” she says about these tools. “And so the humans who know how to leverage that technology and utilize it and deploy it are going to be the ones who are the winners in that game.”
Data analysts on Upwork charge as much as $167 per hour.
Full stack development
When it comes to building websites and apps, full stack developers are responsible “for both the front and the back ends” of a website, says Vicki Salemi, career expert for Monster. That is, they’re responsible for the interface the user sees, as well as the mechanisms at play that make it work.
Given the constant development of technology, demand for full stack development “isn’t going away,” says Lilani.
Full stack developers on Upwork are charging as much as $190 per hour.
Social media marketing.
Social media marketers promote their clients on platforms ranging from Instagram to Pinterest with the purpose of "building platforms, interacting with customers, building brands, boosting sales, driving website traffic," according to Salemi.
Like full stack development, and given the popularity of these platforms, "social media marketing is another one that's not going away," Lilani argues.
Social media marketers charge up to $250 per hour.
Accounting
Accountants analyse financial statements to help businesses and individuals with operations, tax filing, and so on. Businesses frequently "need to have fast access to experts who can get the job done," according to Lilani. "And that is a business issue for a Fortune 10." That is also a business concern for a new startup.
"We're always going to need to pay taxes," Salemi claims, therefore this skill will stay.
Accountants on Upwork might charge up to $125 an hour.
General virtual assistance.
General virtual assistants support clients in a variety of ways. They are employed to "do their calendar, help out with email, spruce up some presentations," among other things, according to Lilani.
Some can specialise in specific software or platforms, "but the generalist nature also allows them to be nimble," she notes.
These assistants charge up to $65 per hour on Upwork.
Graphic Design
Salemi defines graphic designers as "creating visual concepts that go hand in hand with the branding" of their clients. They create logos, infographics, social media posts, presentations, and so on.
"We're living in a visual society," Lilani says. "And so graphic design is all the more critical."
Graphic designers charge up to $150 per hour on Upwork.
