Freelancing in the New Normal: Adapting to a Changing Work Landscape

Arthur MasonUpdated on August 21, 2025

Reading Time: 4 min

As people in the United States, and around the world, try to get back to life before the coronavirus pandemic, one change that has reshaped the work landscape is how many companies are now hiring freelancers to reduce their overhead. While the trend has been growing in the past few years, the pandemic may have accelerated it. Many freelancers say that their incomes have increased, and the ability to choose which projects to take on is much greater.

The Factors Behind the Emergence of Freelancing

The emergence of freelancing is a result of several factors, including the desire for more flexibility at work and the changing nature of employment. These trends are impacting all industries, from white-collar to blue-collar jobs, and a variety of creative professional fields. Many of these professionals are finding that freelance work allows them to control their schedules, meet the needs of clients, and find more creative and fulfilling work.

Benefits and Challenges During the Pandemic

In addition to these benefits, some freelancers report that the changes during the pandemic are helping them make more money. As the economy recovers, it is likely that this trend will continue. However, despite these positive trends, many of our interviewees are finding that the pandemic has had a number of negative impacts on their work and personal lives. Some have lost their jobs due to social distancing measures, while others have had to scale back their business operations during the outbreak.

A Closer Look at Music Industry Freelancers

While the shift to freelancing is occurring across industries, the majority of our interviewees come from the music industry. This is a field that requires the use of a large amount of equipment, as well as social interaction between performers and audience members. The interviews with music freelancers have highlighted that the pandemic has had significant impacts on their ability to keep in touch and to perform as expected, both at gigs and auditions.

The Social Element: Navigating a Changing Landscape

This is a major challenge for a profession that relies heavily on relationships and social interaction for its survival. Some of the musicians interviewed are expressing feelings of being dislocated from their formerly regular social venues.

Theoretical Implications: A New Occupational Faith?

The implication is that their embodied sense of social practices and “habitus” have been thrown off-balance, similar to the way in which they were thrown out of their homes during the pandemic (Bourdieu, 1985). These findings highlight the importance of understanding these broader socio-spatial relationships when it comes to freelancers’ occupational faith. The need to maintain and practice these unique ways of being can be critical for maintaining professional integrity. In times of crisis, these skills become even more important.