Top Caribbean freelance websites to find jobs & remote work in 2021

When you Google the phrase “Caribbean freelance sites”…Upwork.com…A United States freelance site is #1. You see, Upwork and Fiverr over the last 6 years have enjoyed high brand visibility in the Caribbean, but Made-in-the-Caribbean freelance sites responding to the Rise of Caribbean Freelance Culture before Covid and now because of Covid, have entered the chat. 

The other sites that followed upward in those Google Search results were Workii.com then eJamJobs.com both Made in the Caribbean freelance sites. 

But I got clued into the rash of new freelance sites majority of them having launched during the pandemic, thanks to Nerissa Golden a Caribbean Colleague of mine in Montserrat who dropped a shortlist on Linkedin and another colleague who recommended another via WhatsApp.

So I was like hmmm…this Made-in-the-Caribbean freelance sites – is a trend to watch and here’s why. 

Jobs Lost. New Jobs Sought.

The pandemic disrupted things and definitely shifted some people out of a job. It also sparked individuals to question their career and job choices and to be more intentional and entrepreneurial about how they spend their time making money.

Additionally, because more people are spending a lot more time online…they have become more aware that they have way more choices than they previously thought. They now know there are jobs, projects, and remote work available in their home country, across the region, and around the world and they can earn way more than the paltry salaries their home country companies have been giving them.

After all, The Future of Work is mostly online and will be heavily freelance and remote. 

Influencers of the Future of Work

It is projected that in 2027, 86.5 million people will be freelancing in the United States and will make up 50.9 percent of the total U.S. workforce. Here in the Caribbean, we don’t have those numbers as yet, maybe this initial shortlist of sites below can share some stats with the world in another 6-12months.

That said, what is happening in the Caribbean is clearly a manifestation of some key global trends. That whole adage of certain things not happening in the Caribbean as fast as it happens in the rest of the world, the fast becoming a myth, well, in this sector anyway. Especially against the backdrop that most Caribbean countries have on average 90% mobile penetration and 50% Internet penetration plus a largely Millennial population who are highly adaptive, largely digital natives ( technology is a way of life), self-taught in digital skills, and have very different beliefs about career and life. 

Added to that,  thanks to an increasingly global economy and supporting technology, the global workforce will be on the move and, because of the Covid 19 Pandemic, they want to be. Work will be done less “in the office” and more whenever and wherever it gets done — in a satellite office, at home, on the commuter train, or in a coffee shop. This goes by other names – digital nomad, location-independent, and remote work.

Another trend influencing the rise of the Caribbean Freelance Work Culture is that countries with lower domestic work opportunities are now seeing a surge in freelance professionals. You see, due to the rise in the adoption of remote teams, freelancing is providing a viable career path for skilled professionals in regions where domestic opportunities are low. Typically Ukraine, the Philippines, India, & Bangladesh rank in the Top 10 countries with the fastest-growing earnings for freelancers. Now the Caribbean has entered the chat in a major way on platforms they created themselves to connect Regional Talent to the world. How can we not be excited about this!!!

Now let me share with you some Jaw-Dropping Freelance Stats

• US freelancers earned almost US$1.2 trillion in 2020
• 33% of the world’s freelancers come from India
• 59 million people freelance in America
• An average freelancer earns US$67,164 annually
• Upwork is expected to make almost US$500 million in revenue during 2021, connecting freelancers and employers
• With 208% of year-on-year revenue growth, the Philippines are the fastest-growing freelancing country.
• Freelancers around the world earn $21 an hour on average. – Source: Payoneer
• Female freelancers earn 84% of what their male counterparts would. Source: Payoneer)
• 50% of Gen Z workers freelance. Source: Upwork
• 77% of freelancers say technology has made it easier to find independent work projects. Source: Upwork)
• Work done by freelancers to more than double over the next 10 years Source: Inavero Report

So here is the list of what I know about right now. I

The List of Made in the Caribbean Freelance & Outsource Marketplaces

The Hive – https://lnkd.in/d8VxbGeZ

Wourkly – https://go.wourkly.com/

EJamJobs – https://www.Ejamjobs.com 

Freelance For All – https://lnkd.in/dkYJ9wzN

Workii – https://www.workii.net/

iThriverr – https://ithriverr.com/

RemoteJobsCaribbean – https://www.RemoteJobsCaribbean.com

NCB Freelance – http://www.freelance.jncb.com

If there are more Made in the Caribbean sites that I missed, please email me.

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