The gig economy is continuously on the rise. According to Upwork, 57.3 million people freelance in the United States, and it is estimated that there will be 86.5 million freelancers by 2027. The pandemic has accelerated the growth of the gig economy. First, it has caused more employees to work from home, allowing them to take on freelance jobs. In addition, some full-time employees were put on indefinite leave or retrenched, pushing them to take on as many short-term employment opportunities to earn a living. Also, people who aim for work-life balance opted to join the gig economy. People who are fed up with the 9-5 work and want to gain more flexibility shifted to freelance work rather than a full-time job.
Must Have Skills To Thrive In The Gig Economy
Flexibility is the way to go nowadays. Many people like to have flexible work for them to be able to manage their own time. With this, you get to be your own boss while earning money and have more time for yourself, your family, and your other interests. These benefits are one of the reasons why the gig economy has flourished.
When the pandemic took us by storm, this also became an avenue for more to join the gig economy. Some people preferred to do freelance work instead of their full-time job, requiring them to be present onsite. Others needed to have more income sources, which is why they explored the world of gig workers.