Manage the hiring, scheduling, and more for contract or gig economy workers

The growth of the gig economy

The gig economy is booming and the number of people deciding to do contract work has been increasing steadily for decades. 36% of U.S. workers in general have gig work arrangements and that number is expected to rise to 50% by 2027. Statista reports that the projected gross volume of the gig economy could reach 455.2 billion U.S. dollars by 2023.

With so many potential workers wishing to pursing gig or contract work, knowing how to hire and finding an easy way to communicate with new gig workers on an on-going basis could be challenging for companies – especially those who are new to hiring in this space. This article will explore the importance of gig economy workers, tips and tricks to attracting new employees, how gig workers can benefit your business and, in turn, how you can provide your contract and gig employees a great experience.

Why contract and gig workers are important to your industry

The gig economy can help create quick, flexible, and cost-efficient services. Gig workers can work remotely, which cuts the cost of expensive workspaces. According to Forbes, approximately 25% of all professional jobs in North America will be remote by the end of 2022. Remote work could save companies about $11,000 per year per employee. Employees who are contract workers instead of permanent workers also eliminate the need for benefit packages as well as paid sick and vacation days. On the flip side, gig workers can choose their time off around their preferred schedule and do not need to adhere to any set hours. Contractors accept work as suits their needs and you offer work as it suits your company.

Top tips for attracting gig workers to your company

Most contractor and gig workers are looking for flexible work hours and competitive pay. Your enterprise can attract new talent by promoting a careers page on your website where your organization can highlight the benefits and perks future gig workers look forward to by posting testimonials from past or present employees and sharing photos of your workplace. You can also find more contract workers to hire by creating a simple onboarding process and a concise outline of your expectations, which gives gig workers a clear understanding without confusion or ambiguity.

How gig and contract work benefits your partner teams

Contingent work arrangements can help your employees maintain a work-life balance by having flexible work hours and not having to be in an office for a certain amount of time. It is estimated that remote workers could save between $600 to $6000 (USD) per year when money does not have to go toward paying for gas, other commuting options, eating out, and buying clothes for work. Gig work can also help workers gain more experience and job exposure in less time, boosting their skills and list of references.

How your company can make the partner team experience positive for your contract and gig team members

One of the downsides to gig work is that it can sometimes feel isolating. Therefore, it’s essential to provide workers with a great employee experience. This will improve productivity and encourage employees to return for future work and do their best work.

You can boost engagement by creating a welcoming and team-orientated work environment where workers can interact with one another to build rapport. This can be done online or offline. You can also empower your contract employees by recognizing the great work they contribute to the team and providing them with a space to provide feedback.

How to manage onboarding and work orders for gig and contract workers

When you have contract and gig workers employed at your company that are working all over the country or the globe, it can be difficult to properly onboard and manage workflows. Appify has enabled large, nationwide and global organizations to better manage their gig worker onboarding and workflows with applications that connect these external partners to your internal teams and your systems and data with ease. This allows your organization to connect with gig workers on-the-go and ensure they feel as part of the team and that they have easy access to work orders, team members, support, and resources they need to perform their job well. An application that allows your gig workers to provide real-time feedback and updates on a job, plus collect leads in the field, is a huge benefit to your organization. The application is the connection between your organization, all resources and data, and your external partners that allows for a positive and easy relationship between both.

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