Virtual Freelancing: Reshaping Entrepreneurship and Self Employment

Abstract

In the contemporary era, digitalization has transformed the landscape of employment and work from physical to digital or virtual domains. This paradigm shift brought many opportunities such as virtual freelancing. It has become a viable employment opportunity contributing to the gig economy. Virtual freelancing plays a very significant role in the dynamics of the contemporary job market by providing the population inclusivity in work labor for all, flexibility, autonomy, and independence. This research aims to explore virtual freelancing, its conceptualization as a career among the population, and the lived experiences of freelancers along with the motivations and challenges they encounter in freelance careers. Furthermore, broader implications of virtual freelancing in reshaping entrepreneurship and self-employment have also been elaborated. The current netnographic research employs qualitative research methods and techniques to collect data for analysis including in-depth interviews and participant observation. This netnographic research is conducted online on various online platforms such as the e-Rozgar training program, Fiverr, and Facebook freelancing communities. The sample of the research consists of 34 respondents including 5 trainers and 29 freelancers. The sample has been selected employing purposive and snowball sampling techniques. The data collected has been analyzed through thematic analysis. The findings of the study suggest freelancers use various ways to do freelance work such as social media freelancing communities, freelancing marketplaces, online outsourcing, and freelance agencies. Training and building strong portfolios are very important parts of freelancing careers which allow them to be efficient in their work. the study also explored that there are diverse conceptualizations about freelancing as a career opportunity among the population. The perspectives of the population are shaped by various factors such as the digital divide (rural and urban), social structure and social dynamics, lived experiences, the influence of cultural lag, the generational gap, and lived-experiences of freelancers. Moreover, there are diverse motivational factors that push freelancers to choose to freelance as a career such as flexibility, autonomy, independence, etc. However, they also face a variety of challenges such as unreliability, unsustainability, payment issues, management issues, lack of support, etc. Furthermore, freelancing also provides a sense of paradoxical empowerment. Lastly, XI the study observed that freelancing has transcended all barriers including gender, disability, and religion, and offered inclusivity for all. Key Words: Virtual Freelancer, Virtual Freelance, gig economy, digital labor, paradoxical empowerment, inclusivity.