Nearly one in five Canadians is, or has at some point been, engaged in the gig economy. And if you look only at millennials, that number more than doubles, according to an Angus Reid poll.
One in five Canadians have or do work the gig economy
The survey asked Canadians about their experience with and opinions on “gig” work, also known as informal, freelance, or contract work. Seventeen per cent of respondents said that they are currently engaged in the gig economy, while the same number (17%) have done this type of work at some point in the past five years, but aren’t doing it now.
Younger generations more likely than older people to work gigs
People age 55 and over were the least likely to have engaged in the gig economy, at 26.5%, followed by those aged 35-54, at 35.5%. Millennials were the most likely to have done, or be doing so, now at 43.5%, or nearly half.
What are the most common gig jobs? Freelance office work and being a handy person.
The most common gig jobs:
Freelance office work, 36% Maintenance/handy work around people’s houses, 30% Babysitting, 29% Housesitting, 23% Personal assistance services, 20% Housecleaning, 18% Dog walking, 15% Posting videos, blog posts, or other content online, 11% Renting out property through a service such as Airbnb, 6% Food delivery driving services, Skip The Dishes, etc., 6% Driving for a ride sharing service such as Uber or Lyft, 4%
And why do people work the gig economy? Obvious reasons: they want and need money and/or they have no choice.
The reasons why people work the gig economy:
Earning extra savings/spending money, 53% I can’t make ends meet without this kind of work, 29% Difficulty finding full-time work/no other options, 13% It’s my main source of income, 11% Wanted to be self employed, 11% Needed a new challenge, 11% To get new job-related skills/build resume, 7% To network/meet new people, 6%
This is the future of work
The gig economy is projected to grow, by a lot. Separate studies have suggested that the number of people working in on-demand jobs (in America) will grow from 3.9 million in 2016 to 9.2 million by 2021, and that half of North American workers will be freelance by 2020, and that a majority of workers will be freelancing by 2027.
This seems legit. The “job for life” has pretty much become a thing of the past and the future of full time work looks bleak. Many people are concerned about how, and if, they are going to afford retirement. And many retirees are already turning to gig work to offset the cost of people living longer than we ever have.
This is the future of work. How can you prepare for it? Always be learning and improving, stay on top of current trends and never rest on your laurels. Here are three skills important to making it in the gig economy.
Hustling skills
(The good kind, not the cheating at pool kind): Many gig workers are always looking for work. You can’t get complacent and you have to want it. Gig workers are always on the hustle.
People skills
Gig workers have to rely heavily on their networks to find work. This means you have to have great people skills.
Time management skills
Contractors have to be able to manage their time. No one else is going to do it for you.
You think you know enough? You don’t and you never will. It’s exhausting, but necessary to keep up with the ever changing economic and career landscape. Welcome to the future.