How is the job market for Web Developers?

How is the freelance job market for web development?

• What is the job market and demand for web developers for freelance work? I'm not talking about getting hired by firms or getting a salary but doing specific projects for clients. Does a web programmer (back-end) have more demand than a web designer (Front-end)? What about the pay differences? I am in the middle of a career change and there is quite a few paths to take to specialize in web development such as design, graphic design, logo and branding, html and all front end work, then there's backend like programming, database and security, admin, etc. I don't have enough experience to know which one will fair better in terms of providing a stable job demand for income. I was told by a friend who works in 3d and animation that web design and development is bloated and the supply is greater than demand due to the massive php programmers and cheap outsourcing workers that will build websites for real cheap (probably not the best quality). He said his other friends who work in web building is hard pressed to find jobs and the only way to freelance is word of mouth and it's real hard to have a steady income due to the lack of clientele. He also mentioned that MOST people and firms don't have thousands to build websites so they outsource and pay dirt cheap prices. The firms that DO have the money to build websites for a large budget usually hire their own developers and programmers in-house or hire another big development firm to take on the job. These are discouraging news as I have taken on HTML, CSS, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, PHP, MySQL and have been learning it all for a career change. I'm now thinking I need to specialize in a either front-end or back-end and get real good at either the presentation aspect of web or programming. Is it hard to find freelance work as a web programmer? Is it easier than someone who does web design and front-end work? (or are they about the same?) which pays higher?

• Answer:

  Your friend has nailed it on the head. Just check out any freelance sites. It's appalling. Specialize in whatever makes you comfortable, and go local.