Freelance and Gig Work Survey: Freelance Work More Beneficial Than Other Forms of Employment

Recent years saw a substantial shift in the labor market with new employment options emerging. Global shutdowns, isolations, and movement restrictions during the Covid-19 pandemic contributed majorly to the rapid growth of freelance and gig work. Moreover, what began as a temporary solution during the pandemic, became a preferred alternative in the years after for many companies and individuals and is now seeing inclined growth more than ever.

Freelance, freelancer, or freelance worker, are terms commonly used for a person who is self-employed and not necessarily committed to a particular employer long-term. Freelance work mostly tends to focus on a specialized niche. 

Gig work involves independent contractors, online platform workers, contract firm workers, on-call workers, and temporary workers, usually manual labor, and requires little to no training and professional experience.

People have mixed opinions about freelance and gig work, citing various pros and cons, which employment type offers more benefits, etc. This led Real Research to conduct a survey on the topic. 

To begin with, the survey highlights that 41.05% of the survey respondents have experience in gig work, while 35.31% have experience in freelance work. 9.6% have experience with both. 7.44% have experience with neither. 

Particularly, survey respondents would prefer the following jobs for freelance and gig work: tutoring and teaching (20.45%), freelance consulting (10.1%), personal trainers, sports coaches, and fitness instructors (7.77%), and on-demand services such as cleaning, personal shopping, etc. (7.68%).

The rest chose temporary staffing (7.18%), pet-sitting, dog-walking, pet-grooming (6.96%), and ridesharing (6.44%), among others.

Benefits of Freelance and Gig Work

Between freelancing and gig work, survey respondents emphasized certain advantages, including a flexible schedule (12.02%), convenience (10.94%), a wide variety of work available (10.72%), an additional source of income (10.32%), a sense of independence (9.78%), and control over the work in question (8.86%). 

Downsides of Freelance and Gig Work

On the contrary, the survey also revealed key drawbacks of freelancing and gig work; no employer-provided training (15.85%), relatively unstable and irregular income (11.73%), lack of job security (9.85%), and lack of worker protection laws, regulations, and policies (9.22%).

Others said lack of promotions or pay hikes (8.55%), a lack of benefits, non-monetary benefits (7.31%), and unpaid leaves (7.07%).

Respondents’ Preferences Between Freelance and Gig Work

Conclusively, the survey polls respondents on which of the types of employment they prefer. 24.32% chose freelance work while 18.09% choose gig work, and 19.74% prefer traditional employment. 

Accordingly, respondents were asked to indicate which type of employment they found to be the most beneficial. The results revealed that 30.13% of respondents favored freelance work, while 23.91% expressed a preference for traditional employment. Meanwhile, 23.71% of respondents considered gig work to be the most advantageous.

Why Freelance and Gig Work is Worth Considering 

Freelance and gig work have become increasingly popular in recent years and are worth considering due to the flexibility and autonomy they offer, as well as the potential for higher earnings and the opportunity to work on diverse projects. These types of work also provide individuals with the ability to tailor their schedules and choose the type of work they want to do. Additionally, freelance and gig work can offer a pathway for individuals to develop their skills and build a diverse portfolio of work.

In conclusion, while there are certainly many benefits to either freelance or gig work, there are also challenges depending on the nature of the job. Ultimately, the decision to pursue freelance or gig work is a personal choice, one that requires careful consideration of one’s skills, financial situation, and long-term goals. Additionally, it is likely that both corporations and society will place greater value on the flexibility and adaptability offered by freelance and gig work, leading to increased recognition and acceptance of these forms of employment.