In the past decade, the gig economy has grown by leaps and bounds in the United States. The nonremote gig economy has grown, and there have been multiple viewpoints on the same. The gig economy may lack the protections of a traditional workplace such as on-site supervisors, benefits, unemployment coverage, and workers’ compensation insurance. Despite these initial deficiencies, more and more women are joining the gig economy. Well, let’s explore the role of women in the gig economy.
The Primary Draw of Freelancing
Many employers hire women freelance workers, and online platforms make it easier for workers to indulge in freelance work. No wonder more and more freelancers are plunging into the freelancing zone full-time. As much as this sounds oxymoronic, it has been endorsed by the new Freelancing in America Survey by the giant platform Upwork and the Freelancers Union.
Which takes us to the next question why are there so many people creating freelance businesses? It’s mostly because the gig economy or freelancing offers so much freedom. Most people in general or women, in particular, don’t want to sit in a cubicle with someone always at them telling them what to do. Most women who are full-time freelancers say the most lucrative aspect of self-employment is flexibility. It also gives them the freedom of location and being their boss. Besides that, they also have the liberty to choose their projects.
The Importance of She
Gig economy businesses have the onus of taking on the responsibility to reduce the gender gap across the industry. When women start feeling safe, secure, and valued, there may be a greater percentage of them joining the gig economy.
However, to bring still more women joining the gig economy force, there have to be more perks available for them, such as creating clear paths to offer them more senior positions and offering traditional benefits. When a safe, secure working environment paired with more traditional employee benefits is available, women are likely to participate in the burgeoning force.
The traditional gig economy has a plethora of benefits. And in its current structural framework, women are much likely to participate less. So most workforces need to step up and provide more important reasons for women to join their teams.
The Flexibility of Gig Platforms for Females
One of the chief reasons for women’s higher attrition rate in the workforce is the burden they have to endure. They have to shoulder carrying out unpaid work at home and providing paid work in their professions, especially for the starting families. The flexibility offered by gig platforms may allow female workers to juggle unpaid care and paid work by determining their work hours and minimizing their dependence on a certain physical space. As the gig economy continues to gain popularity, more women would come into the ambit of the freelancing workforce, leading to a continuous improvement in the workforce participation rate.
Making the Most of the Underutilised Workers, Women
Freelancing provides an income to many women who have been slow to accommodate. Most of this segment of female workers could not take on a traditional job because of personal circumstances, such as health challenges, caregiving responsibilities, and of course, taking care of children.
This segment is criminally underutilized in the job market as they have the potential to contribute a lot. And with the potential enforcement of the California law AB-5 that can put gig workers onto the payroll and New York on the verge of considering a similar law, it is certainly turning out to be a haven for women who cannot work traditionally because of their’ responsibilities.’
The flexibility paired with the assurance of a payroll can be the perfect opportunity for women to dip their toes in this vast and potentially advantageous job market. There is still a lot of progress in this form of economy, yet we see more and more highly skilled women gravitating towards the gig economy because of the plethora of benefits they offer. So, make sure you tap into the potential of the gig economy too! The future certainly appears bright. However, we need to tread with caution and find out what goes on from here. Are you part of the gig economy too? Do let us know in the comments section!