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#MedComms Freelancing Barometer 2026

We are inviting all specialist freelancers who currently work in and around MedComms (specialist medical education, medical communications and medical publishing activities) to participate in this survey. It will run during 1–31 January 2026. Participation is on an entirely anonymous basis, and the results will be freely available for everyone to browse after 1 February 2026. Please help spread the word and encourage all relevant others to join in.

This survey is being organised by Eleanor Steele, the MedComms Mentor, and director of the MedComms Workbook. If you have questions at any time, or any comments you would prefer to be kept private, please contact her directly on eleanor@medcommshub.com.

We aim to provide a useful barometer of sentiment amongst the global community of specialist freelancers. We will be able to compare and contrast with the data collected in previous surveys conducted in January 2024 and 2025.

It should only take a few minutes to answer the questions, but the free text open answers are often very illuminating and thought-provoking, so please answer as honestly and fully as possible.

Results will be available from 1 February! Follow the MedComms Workbook on LinkedIn for updates.
1.Where are you based?(Required.)
2.For how many years have you been working in and around MedComms?(Required.)
3.For how many years of those years have you been freelancing in and around MedComms?(Required.)
4.Is your freelance work:(Required.)
5.In 2025, did you work as many hours as you wanted?(Required.)
6.What is the best fit, broad description, of your primary role?

We appreciate there will be some overlap of roles and nomenclature, but please select one “best” answer.(Required.)
7.Which of the following specialist MedComms areas do you work in?

Select all that apply.(Required.)
8.How many clients did you work for in 2025?(Required.)
9.In the last 12 months, January to December 2025, how closely did your freelance income match your expectations?(Required.)
10.In 2025, what happened to your average hourly/daily rate?(Required.)
11.Thinking about the one client that contributed your biggest income in 2025 (after any direct third-party costs), how big a percentage of your overall annual income did they represent?(Required.)
12.How satisfied are you with your freelance role?(Required.)
Very dissatisfied
Dissatisfied
Neutral
Satisfied
Very satisfied
13.How likely is it that you will stop freelancing in 2026?(Required.)
14.How much do you agree with the following statements?

Please read carefully and select one answer for each statement.(Required.)
0: I don't agree at all
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9: I agree entirely
I am confident about my personal financial future
I enjoy a good work–life balance
I can easily meet my current training needs
In 2025, I found it easy to get freelance work
I am confident I will achieve the freelance income I want in 2026
15.Are you routinely using generative AI tools like ChatGPT?(Required.)
16.What do you routinely use generative AI tools like ChatGPT for?

Please select all that apply.(Required.)
17.What relevant professional organisations are you a member of?

Select all that apply.(Required.)
18.Do you currently participate in any specialist networking groups/communities/platforms or directories (free of charge or otherwise) that exclusively support specialist MedComms Freelancers?

Select all that apply.(Required.)
19.Did you get any freelance work through a commercial recruitment specialist in 2025?(Required.)
20.Are you interested in support to build your MedComms skills and freelance career?

Select all that apply.(Required.)
21.Would you be interested in training or support on any of the following topics?

Select all that apply.(Required.)
22.What is your biggest concern about freelancing in and around MedComms?

Comments are anonymous but will be made public.
23.Do you have any general comments at all to offer about the current state of the MedComms business, the Pharma industry, this survey or about life in general? All comments are welcome.

Comments are anonymous but will be made public.