Tech companies have been making headlines of late for mass layoffs. Google, Microsoft and Amazon all announced they would be letting go of thousands at once, and Twitter and Meta both announced layoffs in the fall.
But the demand for technical skills remains high. “The skills gap is still sharp, it’s still a significant gap,” says Vicki Salemi, career expert at Monster. “Employers are struggling to find labor in this tight labor market” that can meet a variety of technical needs.
While employers will not always be looking for full-time specialists, some may be looking for part-time or contract work. If you have technical expertise and are looking for opportunities, here are seven skills that will be in demand for freelancers this year according to freelance platform Upwork, along with details of each and how much freelancers are charging on the site .
full stack development
Full stack developers are trained in building both the front and back end of a website. The front end is what users see and interact with and the back end is what powers the site. They know coding languages like JavaScript and Python and test the site and software to make sure both work smoothly.
Full stack developers on Upwork charge as much as $135 per hour.
mobile app development
A mobile app developer is a software engineer who specializes in creating apps for smartphones, tablets, and computers. They know coding languages, fix any bugs in the software, and work with graphic designers and data scientists to build your apps.
They charge as much as $155 per hour.
Web Design
Web designers design websites, build in the appropriate functionality, and use programming languages such as HTML and JavaScript, and graphic design software such as Adobe Photoshop.
Web designers on Upwork charge up to $250 per hour.
UX/UI Design
These designers focus on creating user-friendly experiences on websites and apps. They plan their sites’ structure, develop its content, create prototypes and test for bugs.
They charge as much as $120 per hour.
CMS development
A Content Management System, CMS, is a software that helps its users to manage their various content, from creating it to publishing it. It also stores the content in its database for later use. CMS developers are responsible for developing both the back and front end of the software.
CMS developers charge as much as $105 per hour.
manual test
These professionals test the functionality of the software without the help of automated tools. They ensure that the software works correctly in various scenarios and note any bugs or issues along the way.
Manual testers charge as much as $50 per hour on Upwork.
Scripts and Automation
An automation script is a list of commands for software that helps automate tasks such as sending emails to a customer. Experts write them in coding languages like Python and JavaScript.
Scripting and automation experts charge as much as $350 per hour.
“We use technology every day,” says Margaret Leilani, vice president of talent solutions at Upwork. “We use it to work, we use it to learn, we use it to communicate, we use it to transact.” This has been especially true for the past three years, as people have become more and more dependent on their devices to connect.
“The genie is not going back in the bottle,” she says, “in terms of businesses and their digital presence, they have to have that.”
If you want to acquire these skills, Salemi suggests looking into online certificate programs, MBA programs or community college courses.
check out:
5 In-Demand Side Hustles You Can Do From Home That Pay $100,000 Or More, According To New Research
The 10 Most In-Demand Work-From-Anywhere Jobs Companies Are Hiring In 2022
5 In-Demand Freelance Jobs You Can Do From Home—And Where To Find Them
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