An Inside Look at the Best Flexible Job Categories

The latest report from online job posting service FlexJobs shows which types of positions are in demand among people who shun the typical 9-to-5 work routine.

IT professionals are among the most sought-after employees, according to the FlexJobs data. During the third quarter, the period that’s covered in the FlexJobs report for January, IT-related positions made up 5.4 percent of its total job listings. That was up slightly from 5 percent in the first quarter of 2016.

Engineers looking for flexible positions might have a hard time. Just 1.2 percent of all the job listings on FlexJobs in the third quarter of 2016 are engineering positions. That’s down from 1.6 percent of positions in the second quarter.

At the end of 2015, software development positions made up more than 3.2 percent of all the flexible job listings on FlexJobs. In the third quarter, that figure dropped to just 2.5 percent, suggesting positions are being filled in that area.

For the first time in a year, the healthcare industry wasn’t tops in seeking flexible employees. During the third quarter, 9.5 percent of all listings were related to medical and health positions, down significantly from 12.3 percent in the fourth quarter of 2015.

So, which industry is now tops in offering flexible positions? According to FlexJobs, customer service positions made up 9.9 percent of all openings in the third quarter, just inching out health care. In the prior quarter, customer service jobs accounted for 8.5 percent of listings.

In addition to looking at its listings, FlexJobs examined applicant data. The company found that despite high demand for IT professionals, those folks accounted for just 4 percent of all resumés on its service in the third quarter, reflecting a persistent shortage of qualified applicants.

Software developers are even more difficult to find on FlexJobs. Over the last four reported quarters, software developers accounted for just 1.6 percent of total resumés on the service, making them one of the rarest finds on FlexJobs. This could be because developers may prefer full-time positions with benefits.

There are some people working in the internet and e-commerce markets who are looking for flexible positions. In fact, those folks account for 1.6 percent of all job postings on FlexJobs.

Project Managers are in high demand and they’re also looking for jobs. According to the FlexJobs data, 4.1 percent of all resumés on the site are focused on positions in project management. That figure has remained steady since the fourth quarter of 2015.

Data entry positions are heavily sought-after, it seems. FlexJobs says that data entry resumés represent the largest share of resumés on its site, accounting for 7.3 percent in its last reported quarter.