Freelance Work: Freedom Shadowed by Uncertainty

Working without having to attend the office every morning is a dream for many young people today. The growth of social media and the digital industry has made freelance professions increasingly popular, seen as offering time freedom, workplace flexibility, and promising earning opportunities. Freelance trends continue to rise as companies increasingly hire freelancers for projects in graphic design, content writing, digital marketing, and information technology. A total of 38.35 million people are registered as part-time or freelance workers, an increase of around 730,000. Meanwhile, full-time workers number 98.59 million, up by 2.11 million. Rizky Pranata (27), a freelance graphic designer who has been in the profession for about four years since his university days in Jakarta, is one such example. Initially, Rizky took on small jobs during his final semester, such as designing posters and editing social media content. However, after graduation, his freelance work continued to grow until it became his primary occupation. “If you count from when I became a full-time freelancer, it’s been about four years. Initially, I was still in my final semester, so I just took on poster design and social media content editing jobs,” Rizky said via WhatsApp on Monday (25 May 2026). According to Rizky, he never consciously planned to make freelancing his main income source. “It wasn’t a deliberate decision to become a freelancer; it was more about getting used to flexible work and realising it suited me,” he said. Rizky said his interest in freelancing began from observing people on social media who could work from anywhere without being tied to an office. At the time, he was drawn to it because he enjoyed design and was active on social media platforms like Instagram and X. From there, he started receiving design offers from friends. Although the pay was modest, the experience made him realise his design skills could be a source of income. He said freelance work has taught him new skills continuously as each project differs. “I’m now focused on graphic design and social media management. Typically, I create Instagram content, brand small and medium enterprises (SMEs), produce short videos for TikTok, and sometimes manage social media accounts,” he explained. Despite being associated with work flexibility, Rizky said freelancers’ lives are not as leisurely as many imagine. He claims to have a busy routine almost every day, from checking client revisions and online meetings to designing and video editing late into the night. “Many think freelancers can sleep in and relax, but in reality, it’s often busier,” he said. According to Rizky, the most appealing aspect of freelancing is its flexibility. He feels more comfortable being able to choose projects and work locations based on his mood. However, this freedom also requires high self-discipline since there’s no direct supervisor monitoring progress.