Good workload: Freelancers optimistic about the project market
Thanks to strong workload and rising hourly rates, freelancers are satisfied with the first half of the year, despite having to put more effort into securing new business. The nature of the work is the most important factor in choosing projects.
These are the results of the current Solcom market study "Interim Project Market 2018", for which the technology service provider surveyed the 10,789 subscribers to Freiberufler Magazin between June and August 2018. Here we would like to present the results from the evaluation of 688 participants.
Key messages
Increased hourly rates
Compared to the previous year, the project market for the freelancers surveyed has declined slightly in some areas, but is still at a high level. Although the values for full capacity utilization have increased, conversely, more freelancers stated that they only had very few orders, while the average capacity utilization has decreased.
A very high proportion of survey participants still only need very few appointments in order to be commissioned, although this figure is also falling.
In addition, more survey participants stated this year that they were not currently involved in a project.
However, the rather negative trend in the first three questions is countered by the fact that hourly rates have risen for the majority of respondents compared to the same period last year.
Freelancers can be picky
The most important factor for project selection this year remains the task, followed by the hourly rate. However, both values were stated by fewer respondents. On the other hand, the duration factor has increased significantly - planning security is becoming more important.
The proportion of survey participants for whom it is important to get a project at all has continued to decrease. This shows the good capacity utilization and positive development of the project market for freelancers.
According to survey participants, project capacity utilization remained at a consistently high level compared to the previous year. At the same time, a significantly higher proportion is more positive than pessimistic about the rest of the year.
Solcom Managing Director Oliver Koch: "Overall, freelancers remain optimistic. And rightly so, as there is nothing to suggest a negative trend on the project market and demand will remain at a high level."
1. how was your project workload in the first half of 2018?
A total of 71.4% had a very good occupancy rate of over 76% in the year to date, 1.9% more than last year. Almost one in four even had an occupancy rate of over 100% - also a significantly higher figure.
Around one in five had a project utilization rate of less than 50% in the first half of the year, which is more than in the previous year's survey. The figure for very low capacity utilization has also almost quadrupled.
| 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|
| 0 % - 25 % | 12,8% | 3,4% |
| 26 % - 50 % | 5,4% | 10,1% |
| 51 % - 75 % | 10,5% | 16,9% |
| 76 % - 100 % | 48,1% | 53,9% |
| - > 100 % | 23,3% | 15,6% |
2. how certain are you that your current project will be extended?
The proportion of respondents who were without a project at the time of the survey increased slightly to 13.7%. However, the figures for an uncertain or unplanned extension fell slightly to a cumulative 25.6%. In the previous year, this figure was 33.2%.
Around one in six survey participants are certain that their project will be extended, around five percent more than last year. Proportionally, the value for a relatively certain extension is significantly higher than that for an absolutely certain extension.
| 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|
| Not currently involved in any projects | 13,7% | 10,9% |
| Will not be extended | 15,4% | 13,5% |
| Uncertain | 10,2% | 19,7% |
| Relatively safe | 38,7% | 29,6% |
| Absolutely safe | 22,1% | 26,2% |
3. on average, how many appointments do you currently have to attend in order to be commissioned?
The trend from the previous questions continues here: while just under one in nine freelancers surveyed last year only had to attend a very small number of meetings in order to be commissioned, in 2018 the figure was eight out of ten.
The figures for more than five appointments have risen accordingly and are just under 20 percent in total. Around three percent even needed more than ten attempts.
| 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|
| May 01 | 80,7% | 87,6% |
| Oct 06 | 16,3% | 9,8% |
| More than 10 | 3,1% | 2,6% |
4. which factors are currently decisive for you when choosing a project? (multiple answers possible)
The most important factor this year was once again the task in first place with 75.4%, although this is 7.8% less than in the previous year. The hourly rate also lost 3.8 percent and remained in second place.
For around half of those surveyed, geographical proximity and duration are decisive factors when choosing a project and one in ten look closely at the company carrying out the project.
The proportion of survey participants for whom it is important to get a project at all has decreased further and now stands at just 2.9 percent.
