The gig economy – Let’s Work Remotely
The gig economy refers to a market made of part-time jobs or freelances compared to fixed contracts and full-time jobs. There is a wide variety of gig workers: technical support, taxi drivers, performing artists, and delivery vehicles, among others.
There are factors that one need to consider when joining the gig economy
1. Establish your gig
You have to define the type of work you want to do before searching for gigs. Some workers reach out to an agency or staffing company to find work. Others join businesses co-dependent on gig workers, e.g., uber, and others contact their clients or companies directly.
2. Set goals
To ensure accountability in your work, set goals, write them down, and give a timeline for each goal.
3. Create visibility
As a gig worker, you need to share your expertise with your targeted clients.
The gig economy has numerous advantages such as;
- Flexibility
Workers are flexible since the workers decide on the time they want to start working and the duration. As a worker, you are also allowed to choose which type of task to do.
- Endless opportunities
Regardless of one’s skill set, anyone can work in the gig economy. There is also a wide range of jobs that one can work in the gig economy.
- Creativity
Due to numerous jobs in the gig economy, the works are forced to be more creative to carry out different gigs. The workers are also more excited due to the different types of jobs they carry out.
- Good pay
Most companies pay their workers well since they don’t have to pay additional benefits. However, most of the workers also get paid on an hourly basis, and thus an extra hour they work, they can get an extra charge.
- Independence
Gig workers have high independence since they work with no supervision most of the time and do the work to the best of their abilities. This helps to boost their confidence, and thus the level of dependence is low.
- Reduce bad hires
Through the gig economy, companies can avoid hiring underskilled personnel since they have a wide range of workers to choose from, and they ensure the job is done to their satisfaction.
- Saves on money
Companies in the gig economy save on money that they would have used in expenses such as benefits, unemployment, and workers’ compensation, this increases the company’s economic growth.
- Scaling down
Many small companies or starting companies use the gig economy to help in scaling down and cut on some expenses since they only need workers with equipment such as computers.
Even though the gig economy has numerous advantages, it also has few disadvantages such as reduced job security and employee lack of benefits such as health insurance, pension, paid holiday or sick leaves, lack of social interaction, and stress.
In conclusion, the gig economy is a widely growing type of employment where most people have turned to it to make extra cash. Various platforms help workers get work easier, and they include; uber, amazon, Fiverr, among others.