Alternative workers account for about 10% of the nation's workforce, according to surveys done by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2005 and 2017, with the numbers holding steady during those 12 years. As of 2019, the 2017 survey is the most recent data. These are workers who do not hold consistent or permanent employment with a single employer and instead earn income through contract work, temporary jobs, or freelance work. This often is referred to as part of the gig economy.
Among this segment of the workforce are those who obtain freelance work online, which can be a great way to earn money on the side, perhaps get a foot in the door in the tech industry, or maybe build up a portfolio of work with the hope of securing a permanent position elsewhere.
One thing that most online freelance sites have in common is the need to build up a portfolio over time and to develop relationships with clients in order to get the best and highest-paying jobs. Don't expect this to happen overnight. Be willing early on to take some less appealing jobs for lower pay in order to show the quality of the work you can do. In time, this will help you to get better jobs for more money. Ideally, along the way, you'll make connections with some clients who will wish to go back to you for future jobs because they know they can count on you to be reliable and to do quality work.
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