Android app development dominates over Apple iOS: Freelancer.com data

Android app development continues to power ahead of Apple’s iOS, according to figures released yesterday by Freelancer.com.

The global jobs board has released its internal figures on the fastest-growing job sectors, derived from the jobs posted on the website in the second quarter of 2013.

There were 14.8% more Android app development jobs posted on Freelancer.com, but only 10.2% more iPhone development jobs. Development for the iPad shrunk 2.5% in the quarter. Around 80% of all smartphones worldwide run the Android operating system.

Another fast-growing segment was design services, suggesting SMEs are embracing freelancers over traditional agencies. Illustration was up 19.7%, Photoshop design was up 19.4% and logo design was up 9.2%. Facebook marketing also grew 16% over the quarter, while Twitter marketing jobs stagnated with just 2% growth.

Jobs requiring 3D printing expertise also grew strongly, with 3D rendering up 17.3% and 3D modelling up 12.5%.

SMEs are Freelancer.com’s largest users, so the data offers a glimpse into the types of roles SMEs are outsourcing. Traditionally, small business operators have outsourced discrete, non-repeatable tasks on the peripheries of their business operations.

But the fastest-growing categories for Freelancer were tasks more central to businesses, requiring a deep understanding of the business to execute well.

The fastest-growing task overall was the creation of PowerPoint presentations, which was up 35.4% to 2030 jobs in the second quarter of 2013. There were over 1000 accounting jobs posted on the site – up 23.3% – while report writing was up 20.5%.

The largest job type posted on Freelancer.com remained PHP development – there were over 43,000 jobs posted over the three months, which was steady on the previous quarter.