Gig Work: The Ultimate Guide

Jun 2, 2021

woman editing images and copy as gig work for a magazine

If you’re looking for gig work, you’ve come to the right place. Gig work is a flexible job filled by independent workers who want to make extra money or create a permanent source of income not tied to one company. Gig workers use job platforms to find and secure jobs that pay in fields as diverse as restaurant positions to software development.

There really isn’t a type of job not covered in gig work. By 2023, about 52% of U.S. workers will work in some capacity in the gig economy. And it’s expected to keep growing from there.

What is the Gig Economy?

The gig economy is an environment where companies and organizations contract with gig workers or independent contractors for a short period. It’s the total opposite of being an employee or working in the traditional economy in some capacity. There’s no career development in the conventional sense.

The whole idea is that it’s a short-term freelance job or part-time job for supplemental income or to earn money from different income sources. People turn to the gig economy for saving money or finding jobs that pay higher wages in specialized fields. The gig economy is for individuals who don’t want to be tied down and want to make a living with freedom and flexibility.

What Kinds of Gig Work is There?

The gig economy is a vast area made up of experienced gig workers. You can find tons of work or side hustle ideas in everything from home jobs to food delivery. It’s for the artist, the entrepreneur, freelance writer, or chef. When it comes to gig work, you have a lot of choices.

Remote Jobs

Online jobs used to be hard to find. Or looked at as an easy way not to work. It seemed too good to be true to work from home in your pajamas. Well, the COVID-19 pandemic has changed all that, and now working remotely is part of the everyday conversation.

Gig job platforms have so many jobs now for remote work as virtual assistants or social media gurus. The independent contractor can dive into a remote position with a simple job search using the ShiftPixy app in minutes.

Sharing Economy Jobs

Most kiddos don’t like to share their toys, but adults can make some passive income sharing economy. The sharing economy makes up people who want to rent their home, car, or stuff to someone else for a fee.

It’s passive because you don’t have to do much to earn some extra money on the side. The most significant area here is the home rental slice of the sharing pie. But really, you can “share” anything, just like you did in grade school.

Restaurant Industry Jobs

Gig economy jobs in the hospitality and restaurant industry are pretty easy to score in the gig economy. Restaurants constantly deal with toxic turnover and burnout, making gig workers ideal in this field.

You can break into gig work pretty quickly in the restaurant industry without having too many previous jobs on your resume. It’s time to get cooking!

Food Delivery Work

The gig job made its name with food delivery. Food delivery drivers can earn some serious side money delivering tasty grub to hungry customers. All you need is a car and the willingness to hustle for the next delivery job.

Long gone are the days of pizza being the only food delivered to homes. Now, people order food from local favorites to ghost restaurants catering to the millennial crowd. Get your keys and hop in.

Online Tutoring

Now, who says you need to see your tutor face-to-face to learn something. Gig work is super popular in the tutoring sector. People look for tutors in the English language to math and science.

Parents are constantly searching for ways to give their kiddos an edge or catch them up in the ever-increasing challenges of education. Plus, depending on the tutoring job, you may not need a teaching degree but only some experience or expertise to secure a gig.

Ridesharing Services

One popular gig economy job is providing rides for people using personal vehicles. You can work anytime or anywhere you desire by turning on your gig app.

Ridesharing drivers make up a considerable portion of all the gig work done in the gig economy. The more you work, the more you get paid, so it’s not uncommon to work all hours.

Freelance Writing

If you’re good with words, then try your pen out as a freelance writer. This field includes copywriting, technical writing, blog writing, and more.

You can find writing freelance gigs through professional networks, joining a gig app, or posting your portfolio. The pay can vary depending on where you get your work, but you can make a full-time income if you work hard enough.

Who is Gig Work For?

Gig work is for anyone who wants to change career paths or build an emergency fund. Gig work connects people to a diverse range of jobs. It can help people earn a higher amount of money than they usually would as an employee. But for some, increasing the funds in their checking account isn’t the only reason that gig work is appealing.

Gig work allows you to be your own boss, set your own schedule, and clock in where and when you want to work. If you’re looking for career advice, try out gig work to see if you like it and go from there.

Finding Gig Work

Finding gig work is easier with ShiftPixy. The app builds relationships between workers and employers in industries such as the hospitality and restaurant industry, food delivery, and more.

But where ShiftPixy is different is that they believe in human capital and providing well-paying short-term jobs that are more than just a gig. The work comes with access to health insurance, unemployment insurance, and retirement benefits.

For drivers, the service also covers auto insurance to support the independent worker. The job seeker can trust the ShiftPixy business model because, unlike other gig platforms, it’s the bridge between gig worker and employee. It will help boost your monthly income while providing a safety net. Now, who can pass that up?