Niches with the most amount of projects on Upwork

The most popular niches are Web, Mobile, and Software Development, Design, and Sales and marketing, which are brimming with opportunities. These categories represent a substantial 68% of all jobs, and when you include admin support, that number rises to nearly 77%. This abundance of work in these categories makes them a prime freelancer target.

Let’s delve into the top three categories and their key sub-niches to understand how to leverage these insights.

Web, mobile, and software development

This category is the undisputed leader on Upwork as of December 2024, with the highest number of projects and subcategories. Many businesses worldwide seek experts to create websites and build and design apps, which is why this category is so popular.

Web development is the most in-demand sub-niche, which includes creating and maintaining websites, developing web applications, and optimizing user experience. Web and mobile design is the second most popular sub-niche, and it involves creating visually appealing and user-friendly interfaces for websites and mobile apps.

The next category is not as technical but is still really important–and perfect if you’re creative.

Design and creative

Have you ever wondered who creates the stunning visuals we see online? The answer is creative freelancers likely hired on Upwork. Many businesses rely on creative professionals to improve their marketing by making engaging content for their audience.

In the chart above, two sub-niches dominate: Presentation Design and Video and Animation. These are the two to focus on because businesses need their written content to stand out from the competitive crowd and immediately capture the attention of their audience.

In addition, more and more businesses are using video to promote their business. They are making the most of video ad creatives to engage their audience more than is possible with the written word.

Next, we will dive into the heartbeat of a business.

Sales and marketing

Many people say that sales to a business are like oxygen to us. Without sales, a business dies - period. This essential category has become popular as companies hire freelancers to manage and execute their marketing efforts. However, the opportunities available depend on the sub-niche within this category.

Digital marketing leads the Sales & Marketing niche as it is the go-to strategy for businesses. Times have changed, and traditional lead generation and telemarketing aren’t as effective as they used to be. As consumers spend more time on social media browsing the Internet, the sales landscape has shifted to digital channels.

Niches with the largest share of hourly-based projects

Not all niches are created equal. Some have much more hourly-based projects than fixed-price projects, whereas the split is roughly 50:50 for some.

Hourly-based projects offer excellent long-term stability than fixed-price projects, usually for one-time gigs. Still, beginners should prefer fixed-price projects because they help them gain testimonials and credibility early in their careers.

The chart shows that translation has way more fixed-price projects than hourly ones because translation usually involves one-time gigs. The same goes for the Writing and Design & Creative categories, which also have a lot of fixed-price projects. Tasks like creating a logo or writing a single SEO-friendly article are often one-off jobs rather than something you’d do regularly.

Categories such as Accounting and consulting, Legal, and Customer Service have a high percentage of hourly projects, likely because the work requires ongoing commitment and maintenance, which gives long-term stability.

Focusing on niches with the highest demand, such as Web, Mobile, and Software development, Design and creative, and Sales and marketing, increases your chances of getting good quality clients and consistent work. Additionally, targeting the most popular sub-niches within these niches improves your opportunities even more.

Our AI platform, BidUp, keeps an eye on freelance marketplaces for you and shares recommendations on niches with significant increases in projects or prices. Using these recommendations you can adjust your offering to secure higher-value gigs.

Now that you know where the demand lies, it’s time to take action, choose the right niche and sub-niche, refine your skills, and thrive on Upwork.