Women Are Winning the Freelance Market—Even as Recruiters Chase Men

[bonk]

Women have quietly become the most successful players in the independent workforce, according to new data that upends long-held assumptions about hiring and pay.

A recent Talent Monitor report by Intelligence Group and HeadFirst Group shows that female freelance professionals in the Netherlands are 68% more successful at landing contracts than their male counterparts. Whether operating independently or through agencies, women are securing work at higher rates—despite being contacted less often by recruiters.

The findings point to a growing disconnect between recruiter behavior and actual market performance. While men are still approached first for opportunities, women are proving more effective at converting work into signed contracts. The result is a reshaping of power dynamics in freelancing, where outcomes matter more than outdated perceptions.

This shift suggests resilience, adaptability, and market alignment among female professionals at a time when traditional recruitment strategies are increasingly misaligned with reality.

[kevin1]

recruiters still hitting up men first while women close more deals… classic bias getting exposed