High salaries lure most young O2O freelancers   

O2O自由职业者月薪超8000 超八成90后欲尝试

(ECNS) -- The average monthly income of online to offline (O2O) freelancers reached 8,312 yuan ($1,336) in 2014, Beijing Morning Post reported on Thursday.

Over 80 percent of those born after 1990 aspire to work as freelancers, the newspaper said citing the Report on O2O Freelancers released by craigslist-like ganji.com.

The study indicates that the average O2O freelancer earned nearly 1,100 yuan ($179) more than that of the average white collar worker in Shanghai during 2014, with salaries at 7214 yuan ($1,174).

Some 68 percent of O2O freelancers earned an average monthly pre-tax income of more than 5,000 yuan ($814) last year.

Nine per cent had an average monthly pre-tax income of over 10,000 yuan ($1,628) in 2014, while 14 per cent made less than 3,000 yuan ($488).

The top earning jobs among this group were those of car appraisers, masseuses, pedicurists and manicurists, with average incomes of 16,623 yuan ($2,706), 12,244 yuan ($1,933), 9,823 yuan ($1,599) and 8014 yuan ($1,305) per month respectively.

Most O2O freelance workers show great satisfaction in their lives and careers, with only 2.1 per cent dissatisfied and 3.8 per cent very unhappy, according to the report.

The top three aspects contributing to the high level of satisfaction pertain to self-scheduled working hours, having unlimited workplaces and not having to worry about a boss.

Over 30 per cent believe that the biggest benefit of working freelance is being able to manage one's own time.

Some 11.5 per cent felt their main satisfaction came from not worrying about a boss, while 7.1 per cent preferred avoiding complex workplace relationships.

High and enviable salaries also contribute to the happiness of 10.8 per cent of those surveyed.

Other benefits for O2O freelance workers include knowing customer demands in advance via the Internet, pursuing their hobbies and utilizing their skills, along with having free opportunities for self-development and a higher work efficiency.

Just over a quarter (26.2 per cent) of O2O freelancers are aged between 26 and 30, while 21.2 per cent fall between 41 and 45.

Those aged between 21 and 35 years accounted for 55.9 percent of the total.

The report also surveyed non-O2O-freelancers. Among respondents aged between 18 and 25, 82.6 percent want to become O2O freelance workers.

Analysts from ganji.com said O2O freelance employment has a number of drawbacks, however, such as unstable incomes, narrowed social relationships, uncertain social welfare and difficulties in separating life from work.