Past couple of years has brought monumental change to the gig economy landscape in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), and it has been gaining traction. Companies in the region have been hiring more freelancers, especially since the workforce is adapting to more flexible work models. 

This is stated in a report by recruitment agency Outsized, which further noted that the region now has one of the fastest-growing freelance economies, with freelance registrations experiencing a jump of 142% in 2023 compared to 2022. 

Unlike other markets, freelancers are being hired in the region across many diverse industries and sectors, notably IT, banking, finance, real estate, construction, energy, marketing, and hospitality. 

“The MENA region is witnessing a remarkable increase in freelance talent demand, diverging from the global downturn in the US and Europe. Leading companies in the MENA, APAC, and Africa are now actively implementing agile workforce models to swiftly adapt to market fluctuations and unforeseen challenges,” said Outsized.

It added, “Unlike the global trend where technology and data analysis dominate, the MENA region shows a broader scope, including finance, risk, and areas like product and proposition, sales, marketing, and change management.”

The report stated that new macro trends, such as environmental, social governance and sustainability, data analytics, and procurement, will become more vital in 2024. In turn, this will create more opportunities and demand for both local and international freelancers. 

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