LinkedIn has introduced several new features that will make it easier for people to find remote and hybrid job opportunities.
According to Engadget, the Microsoft-owned employment website launched dedicated search filters for remote, hybrid and on-site work positions on Oct 27. These preferences can also be placed on users’ “Open to Work” badge, a profile option that invites job offers from recruiters.
In addition, the company unveiled Services Marketplace, a new feature that allows users to search for freelancers and project providers under 250 job categories.
LinkedIn began operating a beta version of the service, which is designed to compete with freelancer sites like Fiverr and Upwork, in the U.S. earlier this year. It is now available to all users across the globe.
Users can access Services Marketplace by tapping the “Work” tab on the top right corner of their LinkedIn profile and following the prompts.
LinkedIn’s updates reflect the growing importance of flexible work solutions in the global job market.
When the company tested its new job filters, it found that 70% of people searched for remote-only employment opportunities, demonstrating just how much the pandemic has increased the demand for remote work.
Meanwhile, the world’s digital nomad and freelance populations continue to grow at a rapid pace.
Globally, there are more than 35 million people working as digital nomads. Of those, nearly 11 million are American, making the U.S. the world’s top supplier of location-independent professionals.
According to Statistica, over 59 million Americans identified themselves as freelancers in 2020, which is up from 53 million in 2014.
MBO reports that around 42% of U.S. digital nomads said they worked as freelancers last year.
LinkedIn has nearly 800 million users in over 200 countries around the world. The U.S. has the most LinkedIn users, followed by India, China, Brazil and the U.K.