A lot has changed in the world of employment. More and more employees are interested in flexible working patterns rather than the traditional 9-5 office jobs. In a report released by Upwork in 2022, approximately 39% of the U.S. workforce was already in some form of gig work, generating about USD1.35 trillion in 2021.
This trend is expected to continue growing globally, thanks to the flexibility, variety, and autonomy associated with the gig economy. Besides, employees enjoy the ability to pursue their passions and learn new skills while earning. If you’ve been wondering why temporary work in the gig economy is trending, here are the top reasons:
1. Technology and Connectivity
The internet and mobile technology eras have made it easier than ever for employers to connect and work with employees regardless of their physical location. Previously, employers would have to rely on traditional methods of advertising open positions, making it less likely that they’d find the talent they were looking for.
Now that times have changed, it’s become so easy to find more than one qualified employee that you’ll have to focus hard on picking the best. If you’re looking for the best service providers in your field, you can find high-quality shift workers with shiftNOW and shorten your talent-seeking journey.
2. Desire for Flexibility
After the Covid-19 pandemic, it became clear why flexibility and autonomy are important in work arrangements. And since it’s become clear to employers that employees can still work efficiently from home just like they would in person, more companies are open to accepting such arrangements where possible.
Such flexibility allows employees to choose the working hours that suit them best, pick the projects that interest them the most, or work from anywhere. Temporary work in a gig economy gives someone an increased ability to balance their work life with other responsibilities they may have such as education or family.
3. Increased Agility, Reduced costs and Risks
Some businesses are in uncertain and volatile environments that force them to adopt agile and lean approaches to increase their success and survival rates. Such companies should switch to working with temporary, independent contractors for short-term projects where certain skills are crucial.
That way, the companies will enjoy greater flexibility and scalability. At the same time, they can effectively reduce the overhead costs and risks that come with hiring full-time employees.
4. Supplemental Income for Employees
Another reason why temporary work in the gig economy is trending is supplementary income needs. Stagnant wages and rising costs of living have been creating financial pressures, pushing workers to look for a way out. Temporary gigs are a great solution, promising unlimited potential to earn money, as long as one is willing to put in the work.
The traditional way to do it has, for a long time, been to beat oneself up to earn more or get a promotion which guarantees better income. The gig economy has changed this, allowing employees to mix and match skills, automatically opening a gateway to better earnings.
5. Millennials & Gen Z Are Reshaping the Economy
Workers’ expectations have changed a lot, especially between the younger generation of workers and their predecessors. While the older generation of workers was okay with long-term careers, millennials and Gen Z employees prefer variety and constant learning.
They also look for more purpose and impact in their work, thus driving the demand for dynamic and independent work arrangements that support their passions and goals.
And Now You Know
The gig economy is here to stay, and the sooner you adapt your work environment to this setup, the higher your chances of success. The good thing is that temporary work arrangements will benefit your company in one way or another, and by engaging shiftNOW, you can be sure you’re getting the best talent in your industry.
Besides, you can always have a flexible setup, where you absorb the top temporary employees and make them part of your permanent employees, if it works for them.
