Several studies on workers’ motivators found that people take on contract roles very differently at various stages of their life.
For example, Millennials are proactive in finding contract roles very early in their career, as they are drawn to the flexibility and freedom. They relish the opportunity to work on different projects that can help accelerate their personal and professional development, while retaining the freedom to pursue their personal interests.
In contrast, Generation-X and Baby Boomer workers are more likely to enter the gig economy because of circumstances outside of their control. A number of them might have left their cushy permanent job due to salary stagnation, or were unfortunate collateral damage of business restructuring.
Despite the circumstances, some of them eventually fell in love with the flexibility a contracting career offers as they enter a new stage in their life. Not only is time management easier, senior professionals are also able to negotiate for a premium remuneration package as they offer maturity, years of earned working experience and more insightful perspectives.
For example, an experienced corporate financial planner can act as a part-time advisor for start-ups and SMEs. With years of experience and a large professional network under their helm, these advisors can consult companies on how to pitch for additional funds, where to invest and even how to commercialise the product.
As more companies build a blended workforce to remain agile and responsive to market-determined supply and demand, the gig economy will continue to expand.
In the near future, companies will be expected to offer equal benefits and opportunities to both their permanent and contract workers, which would encourage more and more people to take on contract roles.
are you curious about a career in the gig economy?
While the technology industry has spearheaded this HR trend of hiring an integrated workforce to drive innovation, many other sectors are following suit after witnessing its successes.
We see this phenomenon in banking and financial services, manufacturing and supply chain, life sciences and even in specialisations such as digital sales and marketing, human resources as well as accounting and finance.
No matter what stage of your career you are at, there is always an opportunity to explore contract work. Besides having the autonomy that you’ve always wanted, you will also be able to get to work with some of the world’s most innovative companies on pioneering projects that have the potential to change the way we live, work and play.
Find out what are some of the latest contracting jobs that are available for you right now.