Professional success of Russian web developers in foreign and local freelance marketplaces

With the growth of digital gig economy, which was accelerated during COVID-19 pandemic, competition between freelancers in online labor markets has intensified — successful performers are those who more competitive on a global level. The aim current article is to assess competitiveness Russian freelance programmers as representatives new flexible forms employment through indicators objective professional success. objectives study include assessment and description success determinants, relate from foreign markets. work based results an empirical study. data freelancers’ profiles, extracted by web scraping, revealed that developers heterogeneous depended specialization type exchange. A tremendous proportion possess local, however, not advantage. Foreign operate with sophisticated technologies, position themselves actively experts, tend at lower remuneration. Only small group have succeeded internationally due high quality services, advanced human social capital in-depth education, knowledge languages, proficiency development participation communities. local marketplaces less terms financial indicators. Their promotion skills, but payments made themselves. minor interest technologies languages will hardly contribute involvement processes. technocrats, capable initiating innovative processes economy life, been gradually emerging; for greater expansion into markets, necessary.