Late last year, LinkedIn launched a new tool to help businesses connect with freelancers called 'Profinder', which is currently being trialled as part of an initial pilot program in the U.S. Built to capitalize on the growing demand for contract work, Profinder enables employers to post freelance jobs on the platform - separate from LinkedIn's normal job search functionality - and use the network's data-matching capabilities to locate the right person for the job.
And while initially the service was only focussed on freelancers working in three sectors - accounting, graphic design and editorial, - Profinder has since been expanded to cater for 13 different industries, with capacity to add in more relative to demand.
To underline the impetus behind Profinder, LinkedIn's released a new infographic which outlines the growth of the freelance market, the cities in which freelancers are in highest demand (U.S. only) and the skills being most sought.
The full infographic is below, and you can read more about Profinder here.