GrowthBusiness speaks to Matt Singer, VP of Marketing at Jobvite on the gig economy and what giving up on your nine-to-five would mean

The 2016 Job Seeker Nation study shows that almost a fifth of jobseekers have held a gig-type job. More than half of the respondents reported that this has been their main source of income. Matt Singer, VP of Marketing at Jobvite talks Generation Z, gig-work, and disruption in the recruitment world.

How strong is the gig economy in the UK?

As traditional job roles are disrupted by technology, with automation in particular playing a role in this transformation, the UK is seeing an increase in the number of people looking for gig-type work. These roles manifest themselves in a variety of ways—from temporary jobs working short-term contracts within organisations, to self-employed people working through online platforms such as Uber and TaskRabbit. The one uniting factor though is their prevalence.

Work is currently in a state of flux, and this uncertain future is reflected in decreased job tenure as ‘Generation Z’ enters the workforce. It is becoming difficult to predict whether a particular role will even exist in a few years’ time, so a reluctance to over-commit is understandable. Adaptability comes at a premium—gone are the days when candidates would spend ten years or more in a particular role, let alone an entire career. So, I expect to see the gig economy to grow both in the UK and worldwide.

Why is this type of work gaining traction (if it is)?

It comes down to a number of factors. The explosion of mobile means people are more connected than ever, while sharing economy platforms mean it is easier than ever for workers to connect with people who are looking for a particular service. In other words, these types of roles are now at candidates’ fingertips.

The flexibility and convenience on offer is also a significant contributing factor to the gig economy gaining traction. Working at non-traditional times and locations often allows people to achieve a better work-life balance, and this is appealing to many. The gig economy also opens up a deeper talent pool to employers, as they can attract candidates who might be unable to work full-time or are looking to supplement their income with some extra work.

What is your advice to those wanting to pursue gig work?

For recruiters, making the most of gig-style opportunities is all about standing out from the crowd, and the best way to do this is to develop a strong online presence. Equally prospective candidates should ensure they have updated profiles across all the major social networking sites that showcase their particular skill sets.

Of course, signing up to the major online platforms for this kind of work is also essential, along with an ability to be flexible and adapt to a continually evolving economic landscape.