CIOs are turning to IT freelancers, who can fill their talent shortages and allow them to cherry-pick what expertise they need for a current project, The Wall Street Journal reported Oct. 8.
Three things to know:
- CIOs are choosing freelancers with expertise in specific project areas rather than fight an uphill battle for full-time employees, according to the report.
- In September, U.S. employers posted 295,034 unfilled IT positions. In 2020, 161,000 out of 5.6 million tech workers described themselves as self-employed, the Journal reported.
- Sam Bright, chief product and experience officer for Upwork, a freelance marketplace, told the Journal employers are finding value in using freelancers over full-time employees.
"It gives workers a better opportunity to find something they like and employers to quickly find the people they need without going through the long, costly and hit-and-miss process of hiring," Mr. Bright said.