Tapping the full potential of freelancing

Freelancing has gained significant popularity around the world, and Bangladesh is no exception. Approximately, 1.57 billion people, or 46.7 per cent of the global labour force, are freelancers, contributing to a market valued at $3.39 trillion, with approximately 1.0 million freelancers hailing from Bangladesh. Despite this, Bangladesh has yet to fully tap into the potential of this sector.

Freelancing offers supplementary income across various fields, such as web development, content creation, design, digital marketing, and programming. It not only provides freelancers with flexibility in their financial expectations and scheduling but also allows them the independence to choose the projects they wish to work on. Furthermore, freelancing grants geographical freedom, enabling individuals to work from anywhere.

Freelancing also generates foreign currency and drives economic growth, offering substantial benefits to the government. Therefore, the government should take an active role in supporting this sector by removing the stigma associated with freelancing-where it is often undervalued-training individuals with the necessary skills and providing grants and microloans to empower promising freelancers.

To truly unlock the potential of freelancing, the national policy must also include digital infrastructure improvements, affordable high-speed internet access, and the removal of bureaucratic barriers related to online payments and taxation. Local institutions and universities should incorporate freelancing and digital entrepreneurship into their curricula, helping students view it as a legitimate career path. Bangladesh has the potential to become a significant force in the global freelancing market, fostering innovation, creativity, and long-term economic development. The nation's hardworking and creative minds should lead this charge, with strong governmental support helping to pave the way for others to follow.

Md. Farhan Shifat Mahi

North South University

Bashundhara, Dhaka

farhan00sc@gmail.com