Freelancing Vs. Traditional Employment: Pros And Cons

Gig work has become extremely popular in the last few years. About 78.5 million people freelancing in America—that’s roughly half of the total employed population. That being said, are remote freelance jobs as convenient as one may think? So, here are the things to consider—and the ones not to.

• Set your hours. You have the power to choose working location and amount of working hours to perform in a day. No more being punctual precisely at 9 am. Working from home gives you the flexibility to arrange the day however you see fit.
• Earnings are in your hands. A freelancer can earn more money from the same employer or charge higher fees for their services. Experienced freelancers, such as freelance web developers, are willing to work for $75 to $200 every hour. The more valued your skills are, the more you will be allowed to demand.
• Be your boss. You can choose which work you love and eliminate the kind of work that does not inspire you. You’re in a progressive state of learning by dealing with various clients and fields.
• Tax write-offs. Freelancers do not have employer-based benefits. Home office? Deduct it. A new laptop or software subscription? Write it off. Even your health insurance premiums and client lunches can save you cash.

• Unpredictable income. The largest drawback of freelance work—it’s never constant. Your income could be rising and falling like a yoyo—a day you have so much work to do and then suddenly no task in sight.
• No benefits package. No more expecting your employer to pay for your health insurance, pension, or paid holidays. Unlike when you work for a company, you will have to be on your own.
• Isolation. While employees engage their colleagues in conversations during lunch or a meeting, most freelancers go it alone. This disadvantage can be specifically for those people who are used to working in a team. Are you ready for this?
• You handle all the admin. Freelancing means you’re the star of the show and the producer, controller, and director all in one. He who pays the piper.

While freelancing is on the increase, 85% of Americans continue to be an office worker. Getting a regular job five days a week may not be exciting for everyone, but come on, let’s face it, there are some benefits. Regular wages, employee benefits, and promotional opportunities from positional ladders are among the few motives that make workers remain traditional workers. An employment agency is where jobseekers can turn to for specialized positions in the current marketplace.

It’s time to analyze how it sets pros and cons for those who remain loyal to corporate life.

• Steady paycheck. No more stressing over when the next check is coming, so there is less stress when dealing with major life purchases such as houses or travel.
• Benefits on the house. All categories of full-time employees are provided with perks such as insurance coverage, retirement savings, and leave. These can easily reach into the thousands of dollars and be substantially used for savings per year.
• Clear career path. Merit promotions and increases, training and development opportunities and all sorts of things are incorporated into the system for your job advancement. Employers may even pay for these certifications or courses to assist you in building up your skills.
• Social interaction and teamwork. Working meetings, idea generation sessions and even hallway conversations with fellow employees foster and make work life more social. Working as a team leads to innovative thinking and assistance you do not get when you are a self-employed freelancer.

• Less control over your time. Conventional jobs imply that employees go to work on time; they work restricted hours, which might not sit well with those preferring flexible working.
• Capped earnings. The employees are always bound by their pay structure, whether it is a fixed wage or per-hour basis, which makes your rewards limited.
• Job Dependency. Your income as well as other personal benefits depend upon the employer’s company. Freelancers can distribute risks among many employers, while employees are concentrated on risks within the organization.
• Office Politics. Whether it is working for a strict boss or competing with a coworker for a promotion, traditional employment means different levels of power struggles. If you’re bad at the corporate game, then it gets even more annoying and leaves you with no energy. The employee does not have the luxury that a freelancer can do—just say, “Forget it” to a bad client.

Employment and freelancing give certain advantages, yet they have their drawbacks and disadvantages. Freelancing offers flexibility, self-employment and even higher wages, but at the same time labile income and no insurance. There are many so-called “independent” jobs today, and for professionals, switching to freelance digital marketing jobs gives better control of their working lives. On the other hand, conventional employment comes with fixed remuneration, perks and promotions but little flexibility in terms of choice and earnings.

What’s your vibe? If you prefer decision-making and flexibility, then freelance is right for you. If you enjoy an office atmosphere and like to follow weekly, monthly, or daily schedules, your best option is to be a traditional employer. Whichever road you take fits, think about your lifestyle and vision of the future and choose what is better for you.