Why Freelancing Feels Harder Now — and Why That’s Not an Accident

[etfs]

We haven’t seen this many people enter freelancing for the first time since the 2008–09 financial crisis. Massive layoffs across companies like Meta, Microsoft, and Amazon, combined with the UK’s 39-month streak of declining permanent job postings, have flooded the market with capable professionals. At the same time, unemployment has climbed to a four-year high — and this no longer looks like a short-term dip.

What’s confusing is that employers still say they can’t find the right people. The reason is simple: companies aren’t looking for task-doers anymore. They want people who can think strategically, diagnose problems, and help move the business forward — without the long-term cost of a full-time hire. Being “good at your job” is now table stakes, not a differentiator.

[cryptohog]

freelancing boom feels less like freedom and more like ppl scrambling rn