The Gig Economy describes the increasing trend of people working as independent contractors or self-employed individuals rather than traditional employees. Gig workers frequently engage in short term jobs, working on a project-by-project or client-by-client basis. Services are often marketed on the web or app-based platforms. Commonly known examples include ride-sharing services such as Uber or Lyft or household chore services like TaskRabbit.
Gig Economy Resources
What is The Gig Economy?
Learn More About the Gig Economy
Benefits of Gig Work: Flexibility, greater independence, follow your passion, variety, pay, shorter commitments, work from home opportunities.
Challenges of Gig Work: Need to be self-motivated, no benefits, likely will need to pay self-employment taxes, isolation or lack of social connection to coworkers, unexpected expenses, often part-time or temporary work.
Avoiding Scams: Warning signs:
- A job ad claims that no skill or experience is required for contract work
- Offers high pay for little or no work
- A company promises a surefire business opportunity that will pay off quickly and easily
- You are required to pay up front for training, certifications, directories, or materials
From: www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2019/work-at-home.html
Learn more resources about avoiding scams, check here:
Examples of Careers That Are Often Remote Jobs
Arts and design. Many occupations in this group, including musicians, graphic designers, and craft and fine artists, offer specific one-time services or customized products, which makes them good candidates for gig work.
Computer and information technology. Web developers, software developers, and computer programmers are among the occupations in this group in which workers might be hired to complete a single job, such as to create a small-business website or a new type of software.
Construction and extraction. Carpenters, painters, and other construction workers frequently take on individual projects of short duration, a hallmark of gig jobs.
Media and communications. The services of technical writers, interpreters and translators, photographers, and others in this group are often project-based and easy to deliver electronically, fueling a market for gig workers.
Transportation and material moving. Ridesharing apps have helped to create opportunities for workers who provide transportation to passengers as needed, and on-demand shopping services have led to gig jobs for delivery drivers.”
From: www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2016/article/what-is-the-gig-economy.htm#the-gig-workforce
Other resources:
www.thebalancecareers.com/top-jobs-to-work-remotely-2064308
www.themuse.com/advice/best-remote-jobs
Tips for finding Remote jobs on your favorite job search sites
Try using keyword searches:
- remote
- work from home
- virtual
- telecommute
- virtual
www.indeed.com/career-advice/pay-salary/work-from-home-jobs-that-pay-well
www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/find-remote-work-on-indeed
www.flexjobs.com/blog/post/companies-hiring-remote-work-from-home-job
Other Resources for Working Remotely, Gig Work, or Self-Employed
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has many resources for people looking to start a business. These resources include articles, video tutorials, networking events, and small-business loans. To find an office near you, visit www.sba.gov or contact answerdesk@sba.gov.
Another source of self-employment information is SCORE. This nonprofit organization offers free information and services, including workshops, individualized mentoring, networking events, and articles about a variety of business topics. Some articles are also available in Spanish. Call toll free, 1 (800) 634-0245, or visit www.score.org.
Freelancers can find some important services through the Freelancers Union. The union’s free membership provides access to health, dental, life, disability, and liability insurance; a 401(k) retirement plan; and corporate discounts. It also hosts a client scoreboard and contract creator tool. To contact the union, call toll free, 1 (800) 856-9981, or visit www.freelancersunion.org.
For tax help, contact SBA or SCORE—or visit the Internal Revenue Service’s online tax center.”
From: www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2014/article/self-employment-what-to-know-to-be-your-own-boss.htm
www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/get-gig-work-fast
www.glassdoor.com/blog/tag/gig-economy
www.goodwill.org/blog/career-and-financial-advice/can-i-earn-a-living-through-the-gig-economy
www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2016/article/what-is-the-gig-economy.htm#the-gig-workforce
www.flexjobs.com/blog/ & www.flexjobs.com/career-advice-tips-resources
www.dianemulcahy.com (check articles and speaking sections)
Tips for finding Remote jobs
www.indeed.com/career-advice/pay-salary/work-from-home-jobs-that-pay-well
www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/find-remote-work-on-indeed
www.forbes.com/sites/advisor/2020/03/31/websites-to-find-work-from-home-jobs-hiring-during-the-covid-19-crisis/#16f40d4e3c43
www.flexjobs.com/blog/post/companies-hiring-remote-work-from-home-job
www.glassdoor.com/blog/guide/how-to-find-a-remote-job
https://skillcrush.com/blog/how-to-find-a-remote-job/
Tips For Working Remotely
Gig job portals
https://gigs.indeed.com/ – Gig jobs on Indeed
https://www.careeronestop.org/EmploymentRecovery/FindAJobNow/remote-jobs.aspx
Driving jobs
Uber – www.uber.com/us/en/drive
Lyft – www.lyft.com/drive-with-lyft
DoorDash – www.doordash.com/dasher/driving-opportunities
Instacart –https://shoppers.instacart.com/instacart-jobs
Other Gig Job platforms
Flexjobs – CEO to customer service variety www.flexjobs.com (some cost involved)
Etsy – artists and creative entrepreneurs www.etsy.com (some cost involved)
xiom – global law https://www.axiomlaw.com
BTG (Business Talent Group) – senior executives https://businesstalentgroup.com
Catalant – Business experts https://gocatalant.com
Topcoder – design/technology www.topcoder.com
Upwork – various professional services www.upwork.com
LinkedIn – ProFinder – various professional services www.linkedin.com/profinder
Global|99designs for designers and artists https://99designs.com
Care.com for senior caretakers, tutors, petsitters, housekeepers www.care.com
Fancy Hands for virtual assistant positions www.fancyhands.com
Fiverr is a marketplace for digital services www.fiverr.com
Freelance Writing Jobs for freelance writers getting started www.freelancewritinggigs.com
Freelance for technical, professional and creatives www.freelancer.com/jobs
TaskRabbit is for odd-jobs and errands www.taskrabbit.com/become-a-tasker
UserTesting give feedback on apps, websites, products, etc. www.usertesting.com/get-paid-to-test
https://justremote.co
https://weworkremotely.com
https://remote.co/remote-jobs
www.virtualvocations.com
www.upwork.com
Computer Programming related:
www.topcoder.com
https://weworkremotely.com/remote-jobs/search
https://remoteok.io/
https://skillcrush.com/blog/sites-finding-remote-work/#tech
https://arc.dev/
https://remotehunt.com/remote-jobs
https://remotive.io/remote-jobs/software-dev
Learn More About the Gig Economy
www.aecf.org/resources/beyond-gig-work-executive-summary/ (64 page study from July 2017)
www.bls.gov/spotlight/2018/workers-in-alternative-employment-arrangements/home.htm
www.mass.gov/info-details/massachusetts-law-about-the-gig-or-sharing-economy
Starting on page 19 from: www.mass.gov/doc/the-future-of-the-workforce/download
www.goodwill.org/blog/career-and-financial-advice/can-i-earn-a-living-through-the-gig-economy
www.forbes.com/sites/kauffman/2016/11/10/reasons-to-embrace-the-gig-economy-not-fear-it/?sh=184934d07ca2
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