According to the 2011 Freelancers Trends Report, which surveyed 1,500 UK businesses, companies have increased the use of freelancers by 76% over the past three years.
Digital and new media is the sector where businesses are most hiring freelancers (91% of businesses surveyed) followed by marketing (77%) and media (69%).
The report estimates that UK businesses will save £2.1 billion in 2011 by opting to hire a freelance workforce to fill identified skill gaps. It also suggests that, post-recession, the structure of the UK’s labour market will change, as 84% of businesses will continue to use freelancers for years to come.
Andy Turner (pictured), founder of freelance specialist OfficeCavalry.com which conducted the research, said freelancers could help businesses speed up their recovery from recession.
"Businesses are increasingly identifying new skills gaps, for example in social media. Where tangible results are harder to justify on the bottom line, companies such as OfficeCavalry.com can help as projects and results are agreed upfront," he said.
