Freelance Economy Grows Amid Workforce and Economic Volatility, Expanding Across Every Major U.S. City
Rhea-AI Summary
Fiverr (NYSE: FVRR) released its 2025 Freelancer Economic Impact Report estimating the U.S. independent professional workforce at 6.9 million and top-30 market freelancers at nearly 4 million, a 4.3% annual increase. The report estimates independent professionals generate $319 billion in revenue nationally and $208 billion in the top 30 markets.
Key market moves: Orlando and Miami led freelancer population growth (both 32%), Miami saw the largest revenue rise (71%), and Las Vegas, Nashville, and Los Angeles reported the highest average freelancer incomes ($62,083, $61,569, $61,303 respectively).
Positive
- U.S. independent professionals estimated at 6.9 million
- Estimated revenue of $319 billion nationally
- Top-30 market revenue estimated at $208 billion
- Orlando and Miami freelancer counts +32% year-over-year
- Miami revenue increase of +71%
Negative
- Location earnings gap of 60% between top and bottom markets
- Minneapolis average freelancer income at $38,871, lowest of top 30
- Creative services represent 22% of workers but only 16% of revenues
News Market Reaction
On the day this news was published, FVRR gained 1.95%, reflecting a mild positive market reaction. This price movement added approximately $15M to the company's valuation, bringing the market cap to $778M at that time.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
FVRR was down 4.24% while key peers were mixed: ANGI -4.02%, CARS +0.94%, EVER -0.29%, GRPN -0.71%, MAX -1.28%. The pattern points more to stock-specific pressure than a coordinated sector move.
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 03 | Freelancer report | Positive | +1.9% | Macro data on freelancer growth, earnings levels, and city-level trends. |
| Nov 05 | Q3 2025 earnings | Positive | -5.0% | Revenue growth and strong EBITDA alongside falling active buyers metrics. |
| Oct 22 | Earnings date notice | Neutral | -2.5% | Announcement of Q3 2025 results release timing and conference call. |
| Oct 16 | AI usage survey | Positive | -2.7% | Survey on freelancer discipline, AI adoption, and work setups. |
| Oct 08 | Gen Z work survey | Neutral | +1.9% | Survey on income stacking, AI trust, and shifting career expectations. |
Recent thematic and survey-style news (including today’s report) often saw modest positive or aligned reactions, while earnings and some AI/freelancer sentiment pieces drew negative divergences.
Over the last few months, Fiverr has alternated between strategic data releases and core financial updates. The latest Freelancer Economic Impact Report estimated 6.9 million U.S. independent professionals and highlighted strong growth in Sunbelt and emerging tech hubs. Earlier, Q3 2025 earnings showed revenue of $107.9M with solid adjusted EBITDA but declining active buyers. Multiple survey-driven releases in October underscored rising freelancing, income stacking, and AI adoption. Today’s broad industry report extends that narrative of structural growth in freelancing rather than introducing new company-specific financial metrics.
Market Pulse Summary
This announcement highlights Fiverr’s role in documenting the expansion of the freelance economy, estimating 6.9 million independent professionals and sizable revenues concentrated in top U.S. markets. It frames strong growth in Sunbelt and emerging tech cities but does not alter Fiverr’s prior financial guidance or buyer metrics. Investors following this theme may watch how these structural trends show up in future earnings, platform usage, and geographic mix rather than treating the report itself as a direct financial catalyst.
Key Terms
nonemployer statistics technical
naics technical
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
Forget coasts: Las Vegas and Nashville are now America's highest-paying cities for freelancers, according to Fiverr’s Freelance Economic Impact Report
NEW YORK, Dec. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Economic shifts are remaking where and how Americans work, as the estimated population of independent professionals increased in every one of the United States’ top 30 markets last year, with cities like Las Vegas and Nashville offering freelancers the highest average earnings, according to a new report released by Fiverr International Ltd. (NYSE: FVRR) today.
Analyzing data from millions of tax returns and Non-Employer Statistics compiled by the U.S. Census Bureau, the annual Freelancer Economic Impact Report developed with market research firm Illuminas estimates the size, growth, and earnings of the independent professional workforce in top markets from 2019 through 2024.
The data uncovers significant shifts in where and how America's freelancers are working, with the fastest growing markets for the number of freelancers including Orlando (
Defying their reputations as solely entertainment and tourism hubs where artists, musicians, and performers chase their dreams, freelancers in Las Vegas (
Reversing declines seen in some tech hubs, such as San Francisco and San Jose, during the pandemic, all 30 markets experienced growth in independent workers in the past year. The surge aligns with other data showing that U.S. businesses have increased freelance hiring by
“Freelancing has become one of the most powerful forces reshaping the American workforce,” said Fiverr’s Head of Community, Michelle Baltrusitis. “People are no longer tied to a single company or city; they’re building flexible, fulfilling careers on their own terms. The future of work is already here, and it’s independent.”
According to Beau Vallis, a Miami-based Fiverr freelancer: “Miami gives you sunshine — freelancing gives you freedom. I went all-in on both, and it changed everything. Tens of thousands of projects later, I’ve helped transform lives worldwide… including my own. I cannot be more thankful for the life and flexibility freelancing has provided.”
The report categorized cities into nine groups based on their freelance economies, growth rates, and demographics. Three patterns emerged:
- Sunbelt Professional Havens (Miami, Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville, and Phoenix) experienced the fastest growth in the number of independent professionals and revenues over the past 5 years.
- Lone Star Boomtowns (Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio) were the second-fastest-growing market group, based on the number of independent professionals, and the third fastest in revenue. These markets are also young, with higher percentages of their total population falling under the age of 35 compared to other markets, and more diverse.
- Rising Tech Hubs (Austin, Denver, Atlanta, Charlotte, Raleigh, Richmond, and Salt Lake City) were the third-fastest-growing in independent workers and second-fastest in revenue, and may be the next tech hub for freelancers as the tech economy in general shifts from the large tech centers to smaller cities.
Additional findings from the report include:
- Location-driven earnings gap: There was a
60% difference between the highest average earnings market ($62,083 in Las Vegas) and the lowest ($38,871 in Minneapolis), with independent professionals in the top 30 markets earning$52,002 on average, around$5,748 m ore than the overall U.S. average. - 3.5 million professional service freelancers (including those in legal, accounting, marketing, bookkeeping, management consulting, and business support) comprise more than half of independent workers (
51% ) and nearly half of the revenues (48% ). - 1.8 million technical service freelancers (architecture, computers, data processing, design, engineering, computer/IT, and scientific services) make up
26% of workers and36% of revenues. - 1.5 million creative services freelancers (artists, video producers, writers, performers, and sound professionals) represent
22% of independent workers nationally and16% of revenues.
See the full report here, along with an interactive map where you can check out the data by region.
Methodology
The research was conducted by Illuminas in partnership with Fiverr, analyzing annual U.S. Census Bureau Nonemployer Statistics (NES) datasets from 2013–2023 to identify trends in the skilled independent workforce — defined as creative, technical, and professional independent workers across 26 NAICS industry codes. This data series, compiled by the Census Bureau, is based on tax filings from approximately 30 million businesses across 450 NAICS industries that have no paid employees or payroll, are subject to federal income taxes, and have receipts of
About Fiverr
Fiverr’s mission is to transform the way the world creates and works together. We’re shaping the future of work with the world’s leading open platform, seamlessly connecting top talent and cutting-edge technology with businesses around the globe. From expert freelancers in over 750 skilled categories to best-in-class GenAI models and agents, Fiverr provides the most advanced and comprehensive talent and tools for digital services—helping businesses complete mission-critical projects quickly and cost-effectively.
From small businesses to Fortune 500 companies, millions trust Fiverr for projects in software and AI development, digital marketing, finance, business consulting, video animation, music, architecture, and more.
Learn how to future-proof your business with exceptional talent and cutting-edge tools at fiverr.com. Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, X, and Facebook.
Press Contacts
Jenny Chang
press@fiverr.com
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/84814f32-560f-4c46-8b0a-91077febc5d1
FAQ
What does Fiverr's Dec 3, 2025 report say about the size of the U.S. freelance workforce (FVRR)?
Which U.S. cities had the fastest freelancer growth in 2024 according to Fiverr (FVRR)?
How much revenue do freelancers generate nationwide per Fiverr's Dec 3, 2025 report (FVRR)?
Which cities reported the highest average freelancer earnings in Fiverr's 2025 report (FVRR)?
How does creative services revenue compare to its share of freelancers in the Fiverr report (FVRR)?
