As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, freelancers across the MENA region have experienced a surge in demand in the past two years. MENA professionals are increasingly building flexible careers on their own terms, based on their passions, desired lifestyles and access to a much broader pool of opportunities than ever before.

What are the fastest-growing industries for freelancers in 2022? What motivates MENA professionals to take up freelance work? What about the top skills freelancers must have? Bayt.com has recently conducted the “Freelancing in the MENA” survey to gather opinions from the increasing number of skilled workers who are jumping on the freelance bandwagon.

Key Findings:

• 7 in 10 MENA employers are planning to hire freelancers in 2022.
• Digital Marketing (37%) and Information Technology (20%) are the fastest-growing industries for freelancers.
• 87% of professionals believe that freelancers have experienced a surge in demand in the past two years.
• The biggest motivations for taking up freelance work include earning extra income (40%) and exploring more career opportunities (23%).
• 78% of respondents plan to do more freelance work in 2022.

Data for the 2022 Freelancing in the MENA survey was collected online from January 18 to February 18, 2022. Results are based on a sample of 1,764 respondents from countries including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Palestine, Syria, Yemen, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Sudan among others.