Can the gig economy boom without benefits?
Half of people under 45 group would consider leaving their full-time jobs if gig work included benefits.
Gig work has boomed in popularity despite generally poor benefits thanks to workers’ appetite for flexibility. That’s the key takeaway from a recent report by Jitjatjo, an on demand staffing company.
From 2017 to 2021 the number of gig workers in the U.S. tripled. According to Jitjatjo’s report, which pulls from a national survey conducted in December 2023 by Propeller Insights, flexibility has been the primary driver of the segment’s rapid growth. Sixty-three percent of respondents said that making their own schedule makes gig work more attractive than a traditional office job. Further, 53% of respondents who switched to gig work said they did so for the sake of flexibility and better work/life balance.
Millennials and Gen Z are all in
Whether it be due to different generational attitudes or economic circumstances, the fact of the matter is that young workers are the most likely to engage in gig work. According to the study, only 30% of workers over 45 have or are currently participating in the flexible labor market. Close to twice as many workers under 45 have participated in the gig economy. What’s more, that under 45 group thinks gig work is the future, with a whopping 74% saying they believe flexible workers will drive America’s future economy.
Poor benefits pose problems moving forward
While millennials and Gen Z boast high participation in the gig economy and appreciate the segment’s flexibility, that doesn’t mean they’re without concerns. Many lament the lack of benefits and regulations in the gig economy. According to the report, 74% of respondents under 45 agree that flexible workers should receive the same benefits and protections as traditional employees. Half of the under 45 group would consider leaving their full-time jobs if gig work included benefits. Forty-six percent of Gen Z respondents said gig work could only be a trusted long-term option if benefits were guaranteed.
Related: Rethinking the ‘gig economy’: How shifting dynamics require a new perspective
Tim Chatfield, Co-Founder and CEO of Jitjatijo, sees benefits as the key to higher retention of gig employees: “The gig economy shows no sign of slowing growth; flexibility has been a driving factor to join the movement, and offering benefits to gig workers significantly improves retention. We believe that gig workers should have the opportunity to access benefits and protections similar to that of full-time workers by (a) being properly classified as W2 employees and (b) earning access to benefits based on the hours they work.”