- Gig work is growing in popularity for several reasons
- The gig economy is made up of a huge variety of work types
- There are benefits to gig work that go beyond the financial
Throughout the mid-to-late 20th century, bands had gigs at the local nightclub, and musicians who made their living regularly playing music on local stages were known to be "gigging." Sometime in the 2000s, the word was repurposed for any short-term job performed for payment. In the past 5-10 years, as self-employment opportunities and freelancing opportunities boomed, the gig economy was born.
In the public's imagination, "gig work" typically evokes images of hailing a
rideshare service or ordering takeout food on a delivery app. But in reality, today's gig work has become so much more than that. More than a third of US workers participate in the gig economy, either for their primary or secondary job, and it may well be the future of the workforce in our country.
With that in mind, here's what you should know if you're considering trying your hand in this growing space.