Back in December 2013, two of the most well-known online employment industry giants, Elance and oDesk announced that they were going to merge. This partnership was regarded as a major step in establishing a lead in the freelance industry, which is expected to touch $46 billion worth by 2020.
A huge part of this market, Pakistani freelancers have been showcasing their talent on Elance and Odesk for years now. Recently, Elance-oDesk released its Annual Impact Report for 2014. The report depicts some great facts about Pakistani freelancers’ contribution in the giant online workspace, which shows the potential of the country in an online, collaborative and competitive environment.
According to the report, out of 180 countries, Pakistan is 5th in terms of freelancers with highest earnings index. Overall, there are around 9.3 million freelancers registered on Elance-oDesk. Gross freelancer earnings are approximately $900 million, which shows the impact and value of the platform. Elance-oDesk is one of the favorite working platforms of millennials. The report says that half of the freelancers are from age 26 to 35.
Web programming, graphic designing and writing are the most valuable and in-demand jobs on the platform. Impact report also illustrates that Elance-Odesk workers earn more as compared to their peers in the local market. This is because of the global marketplace and opportunities freelancers can access whereas the conventional employees remain stuck in traditional job roles.
Platforms like Elance-oDesk have enormous opportunities for the emerging markets like Pakistan. The country is teeming with talent and more and more of them are turning online for work. With internet penetration getting higher and the market maturing rapidly with the introduction of 3G and 4G, we are sure more of this talent will be realized.
It’s an impressive news!! I bet Pakistani people have enough talent in every field that they have a prowess to lead the glory of Pakistan as the level where Japan and other developed countries are living in.
its an impressive and shameful news at the same time! it states that Pakistan has highest rate of unemployment rate these jobs aren’t permanent as well where are we wasting this talent on can’t we use these people to lift Pakistan up? duhhhhhhh somebody rightly said ‘choty mulko ki khushia b choti hti han’
its an impressive and shameful news at the same time! it states that Pakistan has highest rate of unemployment rate these jobs aren’t permanent as well where are we wasting this talent on can’t we use these people to lift Pakistan up? duhhhhhhh somebody rightly said ‘choty mulko ki khushia b choti hti han’
I am doing job here in oDesk as a permanent employee. I have earned my place. Now if for some reasons odesk stop working, I will be doing job with my client afterwards as well.
So, you can not say that we are wasting the talent. I think, you are one of those who had tried luck with no success and now commenting for others to stop trying as you did!
I am doing job here in oDesk as a permanent employee. I have earned my place. Now if for some reasons odesk stop working, I will be doing job with my client afterwards as well.
So, you can not say that we are wasting the talent. I think, you are one of those who had tried luck with no success and now commenting for others to stop trying as you did!
I am doing job here in oDesk as a permanent employee. I have earned my place. Now if for some reasons odesk stop working, I will be doing job with my client afterwards as well.
So, you can not say that we are wasting the talent. I think, you are one of those who had tried luck with no success and now commenting for others to stop trying as you did!
Awwwww pls stop crying first LOL the point is its not about few people who have earned their places as freelancers if you have earned that place I appreciate that but what about those people who are in majority and can’t get permanent job as freelancers?Any suggestion?I am sure NO stop being a selfish Noora and talk sense and talk to me when you have empathy if you got lucky it doesn’t mean all the pakistanis will be lucky think with open mind and btw I had awesome job at oDesk but I left cause I am engineer not a freelancer altho I have talents to work online but its not suited for people like me You are helping other nations grow their business not Pakistans so these jobs are just useless and a big shame on Pakistani Govts that they aren’t taking care of our talented people thats my point in other words we are considered a ‘failed state’ its what some employers told me at oDesk few years back.
Mr Ahmed Habib, your thinking is quite small and in the box. I know people running companies here in Pakistan based on projects fetched from freelance websites. Don’t be sarcastic and think at national level. These websites are providing employment as well as bringing foreign reserves to country. My two cents.
sorry my reply was for credulousgeek not mr ahmed habib
No one will give you a job sitting at home, You will have to do it your own way. There are millions of opportunities to earn money legally and I don’t think that there are lack of job in this country for talented people. Degree’s can get you a job in medical, engineering, banking and pharmaceutical companies but your technical experience can give you a handsome job with handsome payscale.
And you are saying chotay mulk ki khusiyan bhi choti, then 900 Million dollar is not a small amount. If we are bringing some of the amount in our country then what is the problem. At least it’s better than other Govt. Jobs and dept who are getting paid for nothing.
if web development is impressive for you, good for you. When world is landing on mars, we are stuck in petty things. Dr Ataur Rehman was right. We indeed created IT mazdoors.
So, if you do not know something… it does not mean that the thing is waste.
If you dont know how to earn and eat how can you suggest others to beg and eat??
yes if we talk about banned websites then we come to know that due to this talent due to talented Pakistanis our country on #1 in watching banned websites
9.3 million freelancers? you need to check those numbers again.
Hi Saad,
This is written in annual impact report 2014 issued by Elance-Odesk. Its on Page 10.
You are right Fahad. I somehow thought that was Pakistan specific! thanks for clarifying
There in Pakistan a type of lobby exists who does not look quite happy with the fellow Pakistani getting success.
An example, Imran Khan one of these people, who is living on begging and want others to live the same life.
If for your inability you can not get job somewhere that does not mean that job portal is waste.
What does Imran Khan have to do with freelancing ???
And where and when did he say to live a beggar’s life ???
Well that is the problem here, Imran’s eyes are closed but sadly his followers are sleeping as well. If Imran asks you to kill someone, you will not argue “why should we”.
In his latest criminal speech, he revealed plan C, he want everything in Pakistan to br shut down… no business, no markets, thus no economy; so isn’t he miss leading innocent people of Pakistan like you for his own benefits?
He beg in whole world to collect funds and then use those in his (her fits here) personal life and businesses. Isn’t he by revealling plan C closing down the livly hood of the people and asking them to beg?
Fortunately, we will never see Imran in freelancing… luckily, he has no guts to compete us in this field, he even dontknow how to operate PC. I know him, he is of my town.
Hate speech not required.
If you are a freelancer then you don’t need to be worried by any of this.
Hate speech not required.
If you are a freelancer then you don’t need to be worried by any of this.
I am definately not worried for myself but I am worried for Pakistan for sure.
you should be worried because a “parchi reader” is our PM. No calibre…just make roads and bridges and Pakistan is prospering.
Bloody Patwari shut your filthy bitchy mouth!
@AmirAtta: It’d be good if someone can research out similar figures from Freelancer.pk
great to know…. Pakistan Zindabad
Good to see Angineers doing elegant FREE-lance in that list.. Yo Guys…