There is this negative perception around the gig economy that companies use freelancers for cost cutting. The media doesn’t report on the high skill levels of the freelancers.
However, the truth is that online platforms allows companies to connect with some of the best service providers and allows the company to actively seek out specific skills. Here gender, age or location is not a driving factor and the result is a level playing field.
This opens up a whole new world of opportunities one where social barriers do not get in the way of someone trying to showcase their talents.
The modern business environment is always talking about the need for diversity. What better way to uphold diversity than through the gig economy?
Diversity creates value
This is one of the main advantages of the gig economy in that it provides value. Workers are more accessible through online platforms and people are able to work even from home. You can think of stay at home moms that need to raise their children.
Companies get more accessibility to workers and vice versa. It also offers the best way for retirees to make some extra money and not just rely on their pension.
Access to the best skills
One of the main advantages of the gig economy is that it provides businesses with the opportunity to gain access to high quality skills. These are skills that would be more difficult to come across if the business used the traditional way of job advertisements.
What’s more is that by employing short term skills the company is able to considerably reduce the cost of having workers around when there is no work.
The gig economy will work both ways and is an efficient way of earning a decent income as well as getting tasks done.
For example, suppose you wanted some graphic design work done. It is much easier to send an advert online than to drive to the nearest graphic design firm. Once you have agreed on the job and what needs to be done, you can then send payment once the job is completed to your standards.
Access to international talent
One other way that the gig economy adds to diversification is that it allows companies to gain access to global talent. There are no geographical barriers and the more reach that you have the more you are likely to come across the best talent for your business.
It breaks down old narratives and allows businesses to compete much more efficiently. Look at it this way, a business only hires workers for a specific task which allows it to ultimately cut down on the costs. Even better, the business is able to get a higher quality job from a worker who is in japan or Germany.
In fact, if the business wants to remain ahead of the game, then having short term workers can allow it to dedicate more of its funds to marketing. The internet opens up whole new possibilities.