Stringing along jobs in the gig economy
String along a few gigs and it’s like having a full-time job.
That must be the way jobseekers are approaching temp jobs because the gig economy is growing.
The BLS hasn’t calculated gig jobs recently but the Census Bureau said non-employer businesses — the kind that hire temp workers — grew by 1 million from 2003 to 2013.
There’s no official definition of what a gig is, but the Bureau of Labor Statistics wrote about it recently and defined it loosely as a single project that you’re hired to do. They’re also called on-demand jobs.
People find gigs entirely differently than I or my kid did. I picked up temporary jobs through a temp agency, sometimes janitorial, other times office work filing paperwork in folders and occasionally a temporary assembly line job.
At one point, I stuffed boxes of shelled sunflower seeds into shipping boxes. The pace was hectic but the pay, compared to the office and clean-up work, was better.
My son worked at some gigs over summers in college before getting a full-summer job. Seemed kind of boring. He cataloged samples of materials at a big architectural firm in New York. He found out about it from a jobs board at his college.
Apps and websites to find gigs
These days, you can learn about gigs, using a website or an app such a TaskRabbit, FlexJobs, Gig Finder and Sonic Bids. There are several others specifically for musicians.
The BLS says these on-demand jobs include graphic designers, musicians, arts, web developers, computer programmers, construction jobs such as painters and carpenters, delivery drivers, writers, interpreters and translators.
Some people like gigs for their flexibility and variety. You can try on an occupation before taking that job full-time. It’s also a great way for retirees to continue working, supplementing their Social Security while not taking on the pressures of a full-time job.
If you’re retired, becoming part of the gig economy sounds like a no-brainer if you have a certain expertise that you’ve developed over a career. You have the advantage of being on Medicare, so you don’t need medical benefits like other workers.
Downside of gigs
But for many in the workforce, gig jobs have a couple of significant downsides. There’s likely no health care coverage, no pension contributions, no sick leave. And the BLS says gigs sometimes require working nonstandard days or hours.
But if you’re adaptable, have a niche skill and are able to manage flexible hours, the gig economy may be the direction to go.
To be sure, gig workers have more potential for work in certain industries where the number of self-employed jobs will grow.
Most notably, home health care service is expected to experience rapid growth in the next decade. From 2014 to 2024, the number of jobs is projected to grow by 38%, much faster than the average occupation, adding 348,400 jobs.
How to get a gig
The BLS offers a handbook of the fastest growing occupations. Many are full-time jobs but there are some temporary gigs on the list as well.
Now, how to go about getting a gig?
In addition to using one of the websites for connecting with a temp job, it helps to network with community associations and your local chamber of commerce.
Still, if you join the gig economy, be prepared for the ebb and flow of temp jobs. You’ll need to manage your money so you’ll have enough to last you through slow periods. An emergency fund could help with the down times.
And, you’ll have to set aside cash to for taxes. You don’t want to dig into your bank account, only to find out that you don’t have enough to cover it. My son put a portion aside for taxes when he worked at a temp job. In the end, it wasn’t enough, but he didn’t have to file for an extension with the IRS so he could save more money.
The BLS suggests sticking with your day job while you try some gigs out.
And once you’ve gotten a gig, remember that referrals and positive feedback from clients can translate into future gigs or repeat gigs.
So don’t blow it!
