The local newspaper has an interesting story about what they term "gigonomics". Gigonomics is just economics with eco replaced with gig, so Gigonomics means the economics of being gig based as opposed to job based. The Denver Post is seldom cutting edge, so I’m sure the term comes from somewhere else, but it was the first time I ran across it.
If you read between the lines a little bit, the article shows exactly what makes being a professional freelance writer so difficult. People with no other options cast about looking for "anything" that they can do to make money while unemployed and freelance writing always seems to come up on that list.
There is nothing wrong with this course of action, and frankly, it should be applauded. It just sucks to see freelance writing thrown in with house painting, bagging groceries, moving furniture, and other menial labor.
Part of the problem is due to the fact that neither the job seekers, nor many clients, know what professional writing is. So, the newly minted "freelancers" get hired by unassuming clients and the world gets yet another round of low-grade, low-cost, why-did-we-pay-for-that, writing.
If you are serious about being a pro freelancer, you need to be able to readily distinguish yourself from the temp freelancers. And, if you are an organization or business that requires professional writing, you need to make sure that the person you are hiring is actually a professional writer, and not a down on their luck used car salesman.
Anyway, the article, like most local news business articles, is about four months too late. The economy is picking back up and the job market is stabilizing. That means that virtually all of these temps will go back to the other jobs that they have the skills and passion for, and the low-paying, whoever answers the ad first, clients can go back to hiring students and overseas workers.