Digital nomad numbers are rising as more countries chase them

As the debate about working at home versus the office intensifies, a growing group of people are taking remote work to extremes.

Workplaces are more mobile than ever. Picture: iStock

The rise of digital nomads – remote workers who do their job from anywhere in the world – is gaining momentum as more countries promote it and income opportunities multiply.

New research by global online freelance marketplace Fiverr has found more companies are turning to remote workers, although the fastest-growing jobs differ between countries.

The pandemic produced an army of remote workers because of Covid lockdowns, but the digital nomad trend has grown significantly since then, with a support industry flourishing.

It is estimated 66 countries offer digital nomad visas, or remote work visas, up from around 40 less than a year ago. Australia is not among them as it battles with excessive migration that hit a record high this week.

Fiverr head of verticals and innovation Yoav Hornung said the number of freelancers using its platform was rising by 10 per cent annually, reflecting a global trend towards the “anywhere worker” lifestyle. “While remote work was initially driven by lockdowns, it has since become a lifestyle choice, particularly popular among younger generations who value control over their schedules and the freedom to work from anywhere,” he said.

Digital nomad Harry Edwards has spent just four months in Australia in two years.

Among them is Harry Edwards, 20, who earns most of his income from video editing but also is developing software businesses. Mr Edwards booked a one-way ticket to Kenya two years ago and it turned into a four-month stay.

“I enjoyed it so I decided to do it more and more,” he said.

Since then he has spent just four months in Australia, “returning briefly every one or two months to visit my mum, pet my cat and do the lawnmowing”.

“My travels are often spontaneous and varied – from staying on a deserted island off the coast of Kenya to spending time in Spain,” he said.

“Currently I’m in San Francisco learning about the big world of business.”

Mr Edwards said his advice to would-be digital nomads was to pursue whatever they were curious about. “If you’re not genuinely curious about anything, that’s also OK – just build something, try something, it can be whatever because the genuine curiosity doesn’t pop out like magic and it’s an easy way to get depressed if you’re waiting for that spark to arrive,” he said.

Fiverr’s research found the top skills in demand in Australia included short-form video editing, earning up to $200 per project, 3D printing design ($500-$1000 per project), YouTube channel creation ($150-$300) and digital marketing ($300-$2000).

In Britain the biggest demand growth was in technical support and online course creation, while in the US video translation and crowd-funding campaign creation was growing the fastest. Growth areas in Germany and Italy include website building and development.

Mr Hornung said digital nomads should choose a remote-friendly career, manage work-life balance, and join digital nomad groups to help overcome initial challenges. “You can connect with like-minded people who can offer support and give a sense of community even when you’re in an unfamiliar place,” he said.

Mr Hornung said there was no precise data on the number of Australians living as digital nomads, but a recent YouGov survey found almost one-third of Australians had tried it and 41 per cent would consider it. The US reportedly had more than 17 million digital nomads last year, about one-third self-employed and the rest working for companies.

YouGov found 95 per cent of digital nomads claimed there were notable lifestyle benefits.

“This included the ability to work flexibly and enjoy the benefits of travelling without taking time off work,” it said. However, 87 per cent admitted challenges – being away from friends and family, and difficulty in organising accommodation and visas.

Originally published as Digital nomad numbers are rising as more countries chase them