Company Spotlight

How the Gig Economy Evolved: From Temporary Jobs to Digital Platforms

Gig Economy

Insights

The gig economy has transformed the way we work, evolving from post-WW2 temporary job agencies to a thriving digital workforce model. Platforms like Craigslist and companies like Ola and Swiggy have expanded the gig economy, offering flexible, short-term job opportunities.

What is gig economy?

Gig economy refers to the exchange of labour for money between individuals or companies through digital platforms that actively facilitate matching between providers and customers, on a short-term and payment-by-task basis.

Origination of gig economy and its expansion

The Gig economy working model was formed way back during the post-WW2 era when temporary job agencies offered temporary workers to companies looking to fill short-staff positions. This further evolved with the internet being used and websites such as Craigslist being formed where workers can post online about their experience and job skills; with this, the gig economy truly expanded forward. With this model in mind, more companies hire temporary workers, and some companies like Ola and Swiggy run their whole business on such types of workers. The legal system in the US was the first to identify gig economy workers. However, recognition and laws in regard to such workers in almost all the countries of the world are in their infancy.

Why is gig economy on the rise?

Flexibility to Work

The nine-to-five is no longer possible for millions, as that often means having just one employer on the payroll. Instead, individuals balance many streams of income, working freelance or job-to-job. The work of gig economy freelancers affords greater freedom. In addition to controlling which projects to pursue, terms may be negotiated, and rates can be set with specificity.

Diversification of Projects

For a freelancer, choosing projects according to his or her skills, interest, and schedules is easier than traditional employment, allowing for greater personal and professional commitment balancing. By working for different clients and having different projects on their plates, freelancers may gain experience from different industries and enhance their ability to offer varied services and work products. Therefore, it strengthens their marketability and potential career growth.

Extra Income

The gig economy is a growing market as more people seek extra income sources. With the most recent data available, about 40% of freelancers in the U.S. claimed that they earn more from freelancing than if they were employed by someone else. According to data for 2023, the average annual income of a freelancer around the world was reported to be approximately USD 41,000. Moreover, AI and machine learning experts among freelancers have reported an average income of about USD 88,000 in 2023, which is much higher than the general average.

Top skills in demand in gig economy

Even though the sector overall could survive, demand for freelance work was shifting unevenly across different sets of skills. Demand is higher in fields such as programming and finance while experiencing the sharpest decline in customer support.

The increasing demand for programmers and software developers has been driven by the rapid pace of digital transformation in businesses, the growth of e-commerce, and the increasing focus on automation and AI technologies. In particular, programming languages like Python, JavaScript, and GoLang, and expertise in cloud computing, cybersecurity, and blockchain, are very much in demand.

Similarly, in the Finance sector, the most important skills like financial modeling, tax compliance, investment analysis, and bookkeeping services have seen a surge in gig opportunities.

However, the most significant decline has been observed in customer support roles, primarily due to the rise of AI-powered chatbots and self-service solutions. Many companies are automating routine customer interactions to reduce costs and enhance scalability.

Gender Gap and Gig Economy

Research that was carried out in 2024 discovered that certain branches of the gig economy have a wage difference of 48% with men earning more. Researcher also acknowledged that men, on average charged USD 22.28, which in this case is more than what women made. This was the largest female job dev-ops engineers have ever held, they work in the development and IT sectors.

Here, the men charge USD 100.90 per hour, more than three times as much as women doing similar work. The sector with the widest gap is accounting and consulting, where men earn on average 33% more an hour, although some jobs bucked the trend. Women HR administrators and instructional designers get more than men, but the difference is small: just USD 3.26 and USD 6.44 per hour in each case.

Challenges and Concerns in Gig Economy

With increased flexibility, along with freedom, for working in the gig economy, there exists quite a problem list for gigging workers and organizations.

The important points are mentioned in the sections ahead.

Lack of Job Security: People who work gigs don't have regular work agreements, which leaves them open to losing their jobs or when demand changes. When you compare it to normal jobs gig work doesn't guarantee a steady paycheck making it hard to think ahead.

Absence of Benefits: These jobs don't come with the usual extras like health insurance paid time off, or retirement plans because the workers are seen as independent contractors. The existence of such a gap can expose workers to financial shocks related to illness, emergency situations, or old age.:

Income Volatility: Gig workers' incomes vary with the dynamics of demand; competition and diverse rates in any project further tend to make one's income undependable in terms of either budgeting or long-term plans.

Exploitation and Low Pay: Gig workers suffer from exploitation due to the exploitation of some low wages that remain below the minimum wage after covering the platform charges, transportation costs, and time incurred in completing jobs. This can be worsened by the excess supply of labor, where laborers feel cornered into undertaking low-paying tasks to stay relevant. 

Big Names in Gig Economy

Major players are leading the gig economy by reshaping various industries through innovative platforms. Uber and Lyft changed the face of transportation, while DoorDash and Grubhub revolutionized the food delivery industry.

Upwork and Fiverr are capable to connect global talent pool with those trying to save cost in the freelancing world. Airbnb changed hospitality because it let people monetize areas that otherwise had been lying empty. They use technology to scale their businesses, tapping into mammoth global markets and providing a degree of convenience simply not matched by other methods.

However, they also face challenges such as regulatory scrutiny, worker rights debates, and environmental concerns. Their success highlights the potential of digital platforms to redefine work but underscores the need for sustainable practices.

What’s Trending in Gig Economy

Increasing Adoption of Cryptocurrency

Cryptocurrency is increasingly being used in the gig economy. A report by Social Finance, a financial services company, in 2022, stated that 36% of gig workers preferred to be paid in cryptocurrency. This trend is changing the way flexible staffing services are conducted around the world.

Genz boosting the demand of Gig Economy

This generation looks for flexibility, independence, and meaningful work. These qualities make gig roles incredibly attractive to Gen Z. Such benefits are not available in the traditional job structure. The experiences and freedom to monetize their skills on their terms appeal to the minds of Gen Z. According to a 2022 industry report, 35% to 40% of Indian Gen Z are currently working in some form of business or gig economy work. This rising need for gig employment will continue changing industries as the more Gen Zers enter the workforce, and these companies must adjust to properly interface with this generation that is constantly evolving.

The gig economy is fast evolving. This trend carries with it mixed opportunities and challenges for businesses, so to maintain competitiveness, a company must inculcate it through flexible staffing solutions that help assimilate workers in the system without much stress. This can enable the business to meet demands of its customers with quality workforce and agility in this changing market.

Another area of focus would be retention strategies to ensure that the best gig workforce is retained. A talented gig workforce can leverage companies' exclusive talent and skills, which improve operations and drive growth. A company's proactive and strategic approach will better its position in such an evolving landscape.

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30 North Gould Street, Sheridan, WY 82801

+1-415-325-5166

63 Fiona Drive, Tamworth, NSW

+61-448-061-727

C130 Sector 2 Noida, Uttar Pradesh 201301

+91-858-608-1494

40th Floor, PBCom Tower, 6795 Ayala Avenue Cor V.A Rufino St. Makati City, 1226.

+63-287-899-028, +63-967-048-3306

6 Gardner Place, Becketts Close, Feltham TW14 0BX, Greater London

+44-753-713-2163

193/26/4 St.no.6, Ward Binh Hung Hoa, Binh Tan District, Ho Chi Minh City

+84-865-399-124