Gig economy is growing and it wants field specialists
WORKING for one employer from nine to five could become a thing of the past as the gig economy and specialisation soars, and it could be the future of the job market.
The rise is being seen partly because of the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown restrictions which have forced many people to work remotely.
The economy is made up of professionals who are not necessarily employed full-time at a company. Instead, they sell their time and expertise to multiple clients, as consultants.
More and more young people are looking for flexibility in the workplace. The trend was picked up even before the pandemic, by the World Economic Forum in its Future of Jobs Report of 2018.
This is becoming firmly entrenched as the career path of choice for those who excel at what they do and are able to work productively, independently and at a standard that means their skills are sought-after by companies outsourcing work to independent contractors.
Dr Gillian Mooney, of the Academic Development and Support at The Independent Institute of Education, said specialisation was key, and generalist skills were non-negotiable in the gig economy.
“You have to be very clear about what you offer, and you have to ensure that you are the very best you can be in that field, combined with a healthy dose of being able to run the logistics of your consulting business,” she said.
Specialists in professional fields who will be in high demand in coming years are those who are in in
anything to do with artificial intelligence, big data, robotics and encryptions.
The creative industry is also a field in which outsourcing will continue to grow.
Mooney advised postgraduate students
to continue their studies.
“What you need to do when deciding what to study now, is to match your interests to these future growth fields, and then see what options are available at various higher education institutions, because the offering varies widely in terms of curriculum content and quality, and there are constantly new programmes being developed that may not have existed a year or two ago.
“Doing an additional year of specialisation in your field, or investing in a few short courses to broaden your skills, is a great addition, not only to your portfolio in a crowded market but also to the development of your transferable skills and industry contacts which are essential in the gig economy,” said Mooney.