Leading freelance platform Upwork, which connects businesses with independent talent, shared the top-searched skills for 2022 and a sneak peek for 2023 across categories like technology, marketing, and customer service.
Upwork’s 2022 report shows businesses mostly hired talent across Web Design, Social Media Marketing, and Customer Service categories. Its
2023 report indicates that these categories remain strong, but there’s also a greater demand for services in Accounting & Consulting and Design & Creative compared to the previous year.
A comparison of Upwork’s 2022 and 2023 reports reveals some tech services dramatically changing positions in just a year. Web Design topped the list in 2022 and dropped to fifth in 2023. One reason for the decline in demand may be that people are increasingly turning to
website builders to design their site. These platforms offer professionally designed templates, require no coding knowledge, and cost far less than web designer rates.
Social media marketing remains one of the most sought-after skills in the Marketing category, although the table below indicates that businesses are shifting focus toward improving their SEO.
The 2023 report introduces two new categories: Accounting & Consulting and Design & Creative. It’s important to note that by introducing a new category for design and creative services, Graphic Design has moved from 10th in Tech in 2022 to the first position in Design & Creative for 2023. Video Editing and Illustration round out the top three in this new category.
Both reports highlight the importance of highly skilled freelancers who can fill talent gaps across organizations globally. Margaret Lilani, VP of talent solutions at Upwork, advises that “it’s a perfect time for freelancers to expand their skill sets or break into a new career, while companies seek independent talent across a broader range and at a higher rate than ever before.”
