FlexJobs has published its 2026 State of Remote Freelance Jobs Report, revealing strong growth in remote freelance opportunities. With more than 72 million U.S. professionals currently working independently and projections reaching 86 million by 2027, freelance job postings in the FlexJobs database increased by 22% over the past six months.
Quick Intel
Rapid Growth in Key Freelance Career Fields
The 2026 report identifies bilingual as the fastest-growing category for remote freelance roles, followed closely by customer service and banking. These areas nearly doubled in job postings during the second half of 2025. Communications, sales, and medical & health each saw increases of 30% or higher, reflecting rising needs for multilingual support, client-facing expertise, and specialized health services. Business development, engineering, legal, and education rounded out the top 10 with steady gains of roughly 20% or more, indicating broad expansion across professional services and technical domains.
Companies Leading Remote Freelance Hiring
Several organizations stood out for their high volume of remote freelance postings. SupportYourApp topped the list, with strong activity from staffing and consulting firms such as Eliassen Group, Motion Recruitment, and Insight Global. Healthcare-focused SonderMind and creative agency Cella also ranked highly, alongside tech-enabled providers like Invisible Technologies and Pinnacle Group. These companies demonstrate active investment in flexible, independent talent to meet evolving business demands.
Highest-Volume Remote Freelance Job Titles
Customer Service Representative remained the most posted title, underscoring ongoing demand for remote support roles. Nurse and Project Manager followed, with consistent needs in healthcare delivery and coordination. Business Analyst, Mental Health Therapist, and Translator appeared prominently, while technical positions such as Data Engineer and Software Engineer reflected the persistent call for specialized digital expertise. Graphic Designer and Recruiter completed the top 10, showing balanced interest across creative, analytical, and talent-focused functions.
Guidance for Freelance Success in a Growing Market
The expanding freelance landscape offers significant opportunities, yet success demands discipline and strategic planning.
"Freelance opportunities continue to expand for job seekers, but becoming a successful freelancer takes motivation, persistence, and resilience," said Toni Frana, Career Expert Manager at FlexJobs. "Building a business from your skills doesn't happen overnight. Long-term success requires consistent effort and dedication, which is why today's freelancers need to think like business owners and follow a clear, structured plan that helps to keep them on track."
This annual analysis confirms the continued shift toward flexible, independent work models, particularly in remote settings. The trends support professionals in high-demand fields while highlighting the value of adaptable skills in customer service, language support, healthcare, and technology within the SaaS, HR tech, and remote work ecosystem.
About FlexJobs
FlexJobs' work from home jobs site specializes in flexible, hybrid, and remote jobs, with over 135 million people having used its resources since 2007. FlexJobs provides the highest-quality database of vetted online job listings, from entry-level to executive, startups to public companies, part-time to full-time. To support job seekers in all phases of their careers, FlexJobs offers expert advice, events & webinars, and other resources. In parallel, FlexJobs works with leading companies to recruit the best remote talent and optimize their remote and flexible workplace. A trusted source for data, trends, and insight, FlexJobs has been cited extensively in top national outlets, including Business Insider, CNBC, Entrepreneur magazine, Fast Company magazine, Forbes magazine, Fortune magazine, HuffPost, Newsweek magazine, Scripps News, U.S. News & World Report, USA Today, Yahoo Finance, and many more.
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