Is the Gig economy the future of work?
The society we live in keeps on changing daily in order to incorporate and adapt some advances such as technological advancements that have accelerated the adaption of short term employment. The current job market is characterized by gig-workers even in concrete organizations.
Basically, The gig economy comprises of people creating their career pathway through freelance and contract work and the individual is paid per job or in simply a gig in a place of a salary.
As a result of advanced technology, digitization has provided greater flexibility and freedom, it has opened new avenues for Kenyans to take up flexible work on their own terms. Before the pandemic, The gig economy was majorly common for musicians and technical workers. After the pandemic, we have gig workers across all sectors.
Gig-work is gradually changing the nature of how Kenyan’s workforce access jobs, shifting the source of work opportunities from formal labour to digital platforms. The gig platforms are projected to grow further due to the advances in globalization.
The current workforce especially the youth are mostly exploring opportunities to join the gig economy.
Is the gig economy the future of work?
There is no doubt that the gig economy is the future of work. 2020 for instance was a very challenging year with unprecedented occurrences that have since shaped our lives for the ages to come.
There has always been a market for freelance, or pay-as-you-work jobs, common with casual jobs but the pandemic accelerated the rise of freelance jobs. The usual norm of companies wanting to work with full-time employees is long gone, thanks to access to technology for more flexibility.
Besides efficiency, the gig economy has brought up so much more like:
Employment opportunities
The gig economy has increased the labour force participation and created economic opportunities for the Kenyan youths. The gig economy has made it possible for people to get employment opportunities such that it has widened the employment market. For instance, we have freelance journalists, content creators that includes bloggers, vloggers and even podcasters a niche that was realistic in the formal employment set-up.
gig-work is gradually changing the Kenyan economy and changing the Kenyan workforce.
Online platforms are a new source of income for talented and innovative young people.
Flexible work schedules
Most freelancers or gig workers value flexibility. Routine jobs and schedules are boring. Gig working allows you to work at your convenient time and the good thing with this is that you get to work when your mind is really connected to the job which allows you to deliver the best.
Flexible work schedules are a source of employee motivation and motivated employees always gives better results. They tend to work effortlessly with less supervision and still provide quality work. Let’s take startups for instance which most are characterized by freelance workers, they take control of their work, income and take up any opportunity given to them unlike full-time employees
Improved livelihoods
Thanks to the growing gig economy, most people now have various sources of income apart from the main source or the stable job that they might have which means more income their way.
Freelancers have also invested in upskilling themselves and while they work their best, they build up their brands too.
Easy access to talents
Most companies struggle to hire very qualified employees because of the hefty salaries they will ask for that most companies are not able to meet.
With the gig economy, a company can hire a part-time employee, do a perfect job and be paid one time when they are prepared and are able to achieve better results and save the costs of hiring a full-time employee.
the gig economy is undoubtedly the future of work and it holds great potential because it tends to be more meaningful and rewarding in more than just the monetary aspect.
The simple fact that you are building your own brand instead of someone else’s makes it worthwhile.