The unstoppable rise in the gig economy

53 million Americans, or 34% of the workforce, are 1099 workers. The category covers the full spectrum of freelancing, from independent contractors, to temps, as well as on to occasional moonlighters. The quantity of 1099 contractors is expected growing by over 4% 12 months through 2020 close to 66 million people. The excitement is driven by a mix of new technology and age-old incentives. Freelancers be cheaper for businesses who lessen payroll costs and benefit outlays, while staff is granted greater flexibility. A Roosevelt Institute/Kauffmann Foundation joint report argues that, by 2040, the US economy will be “scarcely recognisable”.

�The gig economy now accounts for a 3rd of the American workforce. interim

�By 2020 66m Americans are hoped for to become freelance or 1099 workers.

Does everyone need the gig?

Is 1099 the genuine code for your age?

Energy, Financial Services, Government, Healthcare/Pharma/Biotech, Industrials/Manufacturing, Innovation & New Ventures, Media & Entertainment, Nonprofit, Equity finance, Real Estate, Retail & Consumer, Technology & Telecoms, Capital raising

The attractions for being a 1099 are certainly not universal,
as a result of not enough employment and employment rights. 53% of folks freelance by choice, 47% beyond economic necessity. Although many contractors enjoy the pliability and control freelancing can offer, other people are increasingly keen to win employee status. Especially in blue-collar segments a tiny, but growing variety of Uber drivers and also other 1099s doing work for Postmates, Lyft and Washio are fighting legal battles to get considered employees instead of contractors. Home cleaning start-up, Homejoy, closed partly due to the body weight of such lawsuits. The rise in the �gig economy� presents governments with serious problems. While entitlement systems are built around the conception of the fixed job, revenues from payroll taxes will fall sharply.

Current legislation not created for today�s economy

Many analysts believe a sudden change in legislation is necessary with the introduction of your intermediate classification between �worker� and contractor�. Germany’s “dependent contractor” status gives a model which combines protection with flexibility. Simon Rothman, a venture capitalist in delivery service platform Sprig, argues to the adoption for these a single. Noting that 38% of on-demand workers are signed up to multiple companies, he really wants to see personalized healthcare travel together with the employee. According to tech evangelist Tim O’Reilly, however, legal changes add up to nothing more than a sop. Reilly suggests that companies that are nervous of legal actionare already switching workers from 1099 to W2 tax codes and are capping employees’ hours so they become part-time and don’t receive benefits. “We’ve basically gutted wages for workers, and we’re wondering what’s happening”, he admits that.

What the brains think�

In June, a McKinsey Global Institute Report suggested that online talent platforms – starting from homes like Monster.com, to digital marketplaces like TaskRabbit and talent management agencies including PayScale and ReviewSnap – could boost global GDP by 2% or $2.7 trillion by 2025. Platforms could have the positive impact of accelerating employment by 72 million full-time equivalents. The authors believe that an excellent transition to the �gig economy� requires not simply new labor market regulations, but additionally affordable broadband access for those and clearer rules inside the thorny aspects of data ownership and privacy. mba

Leave a comment