The recently released Global Survey on Freelancing covers data gleaned from over 1900 freelancers from across the globe.
To gather this data, the survey team - a collaboration between the Agile Talent Collaborative And the Department of Psychology at the University of Toronto - worked with 75 freelance platforms, agencies and communities from various countries who helped them collect the data.
This study breaks new ground because it's the first global study we're aware of that focuses on freelancers who provide services to businesses via online platforms.
The study includes an 8 factor freelance satisfaction index (click on the study chart below to enlarge).
Key report quote on the satisfaction index data:
Most freelancers understand and accept the trade-off they make by trading traditional professional employment for a solopreneurial life and career. The data line up with earlier results; Freelancers value the flexibility and independence that freelancing provides, enjoy the quality of life it offers, and appreciate the chance to build satisfying client relationships. And, they accept the occasional volatility of opportunity, and the challenge of a frequently changing workplace and colleagues.
As noted in the quote above, this data is consistent with other studies (including ours). But almost all the other studies (including ours) are limited to one or just a few countries. This study shows that globally freelancers share many views on independent work.
The report covers a lot of ground - way too much to cover here. It's well worth reading for anyone interested in freelancing.