Pavel Shynkarenko, an entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in fintech, is the founder and CEO of Solar Staff, a payroll company for freelancers. According to a survey of 400 HR executives in the United States, 42% of respondents stated they are planning to source contractors directly or create an internal talent pool with reliable freelancers. Shynkarenko believes that the importance of freelance marketplaces is diminishing in comparison to more specialized platforms for five key reasons.
Firstly, marketplaces are expensive and do not help build long-term relationships as they prioritize short-term transactions and charge relatively high fees. Additionally, they do not offer the best place to find a freelancer due to limitations in quality control, oversaturation, and a lack of specialization. Companies are moving towards talent-pool-driven strategies that focus on building internal pools of freelancers with vetted skills for higher quality and more efficient collaborations.
Moreover, the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) tools such as ChatGPT and Gemini is impacting the traditional method of sourcing talent through marketplaces, especially for transactional tasks. Shynkarenko suggests that specialized solutions are gaining traction by offering a more comprehensive suite of services beyond traditional marketplaces, such as payroll services platforms and freelance management solutions which incorporate marketplace functionalities.
Ultimately, as more businesses adopt talent-pool-driven strategies, integrate AI into their operations, and prioritize long-term relationships with freelancers, it is expected that alternative talent acquisition and management methods will flourish. Marketplaces are gradually being displaced by these more complex solutions and niche-oriented platforms that solve specific problems and operate differently. While niche marketplaces are still in demand, traditional talent marketplaces are losing relevance in the ever-evolving freelance economy.
