Marvin OnumonuTide’s Global Freelancer Report found that freelance filmmakers were the most in-demand role worldwide, with over 280,000 annual searches.
SEO specialists, graphic designers and copywriters also saw high demand.
In the UK, SEO specialists topped the list, with graphic designers in demand in England and Northern Ireland, photographers in Wales and copywriters in Scotland.
Roles growing fastest included web analytics specialists, content marketers and photo re-touchers.
There was a 35% rise in demand for thumbnail designers, showing a link to platforms like YouTube.
WordPress developers, branding specialists and logo designers also saw growth.
George Schmidt, UK/Europe CEO at Tide, said: “Going freelance can be an exciting and natural next step for many people that have worked in an industry for an extended period of time.
“You can choose your clients, how you work and have the flexibility to fit it around your life.
“From a business perspective, freelancers can be a cost-effective solution for one-off or short-term projects, offering the agility and expertise companies need without the overheads of a permanent hire or larger agency.”
Schmidt added: “Either way, we’re here to champion and support freelancers, and the businesses commissioning them, with everything from company registration and formation, to banking and sending invoices.”
