Engines of the Gig Economy: Top Global Employers of 2018
The attitude of people towards financial gain in a certain workplace and without being bound by certain conditions has created a brand new economy. As I mentioned in previous articles, we are now faced with the Gig economy as a result of a business model (freelance) that is in demand on a global scale. Gig platforms make up about 34% of the US workforce today. This rate is expected to be 43% in 2020.
At this point, I believe that we should examine the strongest platforms to which the Gig workforce, which is proportionally close to half of the US workforce, is connected. Thus, we can make sense of this new structure, which greatly affects and will increasingly affect world dynamics, and accelerate our adaptation process.
When it comes to gig platforms, the first things that come to mind are, of course, Uber and Airbnb. However, if we think a little deeper, it is unusual for a job seeker to have a house and a car. In addition, Uber's commission rates are quite high compared to other platforms.
When I wanted to research the platforms that provide the most comfortable and easy environment for the gig workforce, I found that the comparative study conducted by Kiah Treece in August 2018 was quite comprehensive.
In the research, the best Gig employers were discussed in detail according to wages, employer commissions, quality of life, access to the platform and tax practices.
The following six criteria are considered when comparing gig platforms:
-Average Hourly Pay
-Commission rate
-Geographic Validity (Number of regions where the platform is applicable)
-Quality of Life (The advantages of the worker and the physiological and psychological effects of the job)
-Entry Barrier (Qualifications and/or properties required to be included in the Platform)
-Tax Applications
Top Gig Employers in 2018:
1-Care.com
Care.com is a membership-based platform that allows families to hire experienced babysitters, childcare professionals, cleaners and trainers. The website ranks first due to its high scores in the categories of interface design, commission rate, geographic validity and quality of life.
2- TaskRabbit
TaskRabbit is an online community platform that provides local help to people, from furniture assembly to shopping and delivery services. Acquired by IKEA in 2017, the platform ranks second with a total of 4.25 stars.
3- Guru
Guru is an online platform that connects qualified freelancers to employers around the world for a range of professional services, such as digitally focused financial and legal services. It ranks third on the list with its wide geographic availability and quality of life score.
4- Rover
Guru is an online platform that connects qualified freelancers to employers around the world for a range of professional services, such as digitally focused financial and legal services. Third on the list with its wide geographic availability and quality of life score
Rover is a website dedicated to helping pet owners find experienced dog sitters. It ranks fourth on the list due to its ease of inclusion on the platform and its high quality of life score.
5- HopSkipDrive
HopSkipDrive is a shared ride service for kids created by busy families. The platform connects safe and qualified caregivers with families who need transportation services for their children. Although valid only in Southern California and Colorado, it ranks fifth on the list due to its $30 hourly wage and quality service standard.
Here are the top 5 platforms that stand out for gig workers. You can see the full list below:
The growth of the gig economy and the increase of freelancers is a fact observed with data, beyond estimations. It is clear that we need to examine existing Gig platforms to amplify our knowledge of this new economy. Do you think a platform that offers employees higher pay, more flexibility, higher quality of life, greater geographic coverage, and greater accessibility than any other would leave our country?
Bonus:
Gianpiero Petriglieri thoughts on the "Gig Economy" can broaden our horizons.