Research shows that half of the adult workers in the United States already have been or will become independent, free-lance workers at sometime in the next five years.
“User-friendly applications that simplify the way people find work will be a driving force behind this growth explosion,” says attorney Natasha Banks of the law firm of Fisher Phillips.
“Today’s employer must take advantage of these technologies and do away with its antiquated workforce model, or fall in the shadows of other forward-thinking organizations.”
The advent of the gig economy along with the integration of technology has changed the traditional job market, she points out. “Employers may view technology as an obstacle, but it is crucial they get on board given the increased mobility of today’s workforce.”
More people are looking for different kinds of freelance opportunities, and technology opens more venues for gig workers to seek work that aligns with their skills, schedules and financial requirements.
“Technology will drive the marketplace by giving workers more options to source work at the click of a button,” Banks stresses.
In the past, employers encountered difficulties in identifying a talent pool that matched their business needs. Then, as technology evolved, they were overwhelmed with the amount of data available and how to analyze it.
Banks notes that employers have found it challenging to analyze and extrapolate the data that lead to a strategic hiring decision. “However, in 2018, technologies will continue to grow to collect more relevant data on gig workers which includes their work patterns, needs, and preferences (such as schedules, pay and job types).”
Modern algorithms are now in place to help employers use these technologies to source the talent they need to match their business culture and needs, she says.