The 30 Companies That Hire the Most Freelancers

airplane Whether you’re an established freelancer or trying to get your self-employed career off the ground, chances are you’re always on the lookout for new work opportunities. FlexJobs, a job board dedicated to flexible work opportunities, is here to make your life a little easier with its list of the top 30 companies hiring freelancers.

The list, which is based on the number of open freelance jobs posted by each company between August and October of this year, is composed of a dramatically diverse set of companies. For example, staffing firm Hollister sits at No. 19, the test-preppers at Kaplan hold the No. 27 spot, and BBC subsidiary BBC Worldwide tops the list at No. 1.

“That’s really one of the most interesting things about this list,” says Brie Reynolds, director of online content at FlexJobs. “There doesn’t seem to be a common link except that they all have some type of specialized work that independent contractors are particularly suited to fill.”

Reynolds also notes that the diversity of this list also reflects the growing prevalence of freelance and flexible work opportunities in the world economy.

“Because technology has made it so much easier for freelancers and in-need companies to connect – even across thousands of miles – it seems that more companies are opening up to the idea of hiring freelancers,” Reynolds says.

In part, freelancing and flexible work options are so popular because these arrangements offer clear benefits for both workers themselves and the companies that hire them.

Hiring freelancers makes it easier for companies to find the talent they need, regardless of when they need it or where that talent lives. This makes freelancers especially valuable to small or growing companies looking to expand their products or services. Freelancers can also be a great way to breathe new life into a struggling organization, according to Reynolds.

“[Freelancers] help bring new ideas and approaches into a company [where the] core team may need a boost in ideas, creativity, and productivity,” Reynolds says.

For the freelancers themselves, freelancing and flexible work options offer them new levels of control over their careers.

organ “They’re able to control who they’re working for, what they’re doing, and how long they’re working on it,” Reynolds says. “Freelancers are essentially their own bosses. This type of arrangement is great for people who want to work on a variety of projects for different companies and clients, or who want to be able to determine when and how much they’re working.”

Of course, being a freelancer isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. When you act as your own boss, you need to take on the very responsibilities that your boss would normally shoulder in a more traditional work arrangement.

“Freelancers are responsible for their own benefits, insurance, bookkeeping, taxes, etc., so they need to be organized and diligent to be successful,” Reynolds says.

The Top 30 Companies Hiring Freelancers Today

By Matthew Kosinski