70% of Gen Z prefers freelancing for job security – Fiverr survey
NEW YORK, UNITED STATES — Gen Zs are turning the traditional career trajectory on its head by embracing freelancing, reveals freelance services marketplace Fiverr.
The worldwide report found that with almost 70% freelancing already or planning to, and nearly 40% willing to go full-time, Gen Z cites a desire for flexibility, autonomy, and stability in the midst of rampant layoffs.
“Now, in the face of layoffs and the implementation of AI [artificial intelligence] across the corporate world, Gen Z workers are relying on themselves for the stability that they need to pursue their career ambitions by choosing freelancing,” said Gali Arnon, Fiverr’s Chief Business Officer.
“Not only does freelancing offer a stable path to be their own boss or to own their own business, but it also allows for Gen Z to have total autonomy over their own lives.”
Financial security ranks high for Gen Z, with 44% wanting to attain financial comfort and 25% aiming to own a business. Travel aspirations are also widespread, with 30% wanting location-independent roles.
In the United States, AI-induced job insecurity is fueling this exodus:
- 38% believe freelancing safeguards against layoffs
- nearly 25% bet on freelancing providing more stability than traditional employment
- 18% consider freelancing as non-replaceable by AI
Still, 52% of Gen Z employees are worried about being replaced by coworkers with superior AI skills by 2025, according to global learning technology company D2L.
Fiverr conducted the 10,000-person survey across the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany, and France.
