This article was originally pubished by The Sunday Mail
Unemployment among our youth remains a significant challenge. While the government is often blamed for not doing enough to address this issue, it’s also crucial for each citizen to seize the economic opportunities available. We must move beyond simply delegating responsibility for our lives to others.
One effective way for young people to create their own employment is by participating in the “Gig Economy.” The Gig Economy is a labor market characterized by outsourcing work and utilizing technology platforms and apps for temporary employment. It serves as a substitute for traditional, full-time employment.
Gig workers are freelancers or contractors who move between jobs on a project-to-project basis. They might have one gig at a time or multiple gigs simultaneously. The gig economy began gaining popularity about a decade ago and is expected to continue growing as more people participate. Gig opportunities are present across various sectors, including entertainment, transportation, sales, marketing, and the arts. Gig work is appealing because it allows individuals to choose their gigs, offering flexibility compared to being tied to a single employer with a 9-to-5 schedule.
The gig economy also benefits businesses by helping them reduce overhead costs. Companies can save up to 30 percent in human resource costs by hiring freelancers, as they aren’t required to provide full benefits or paid leave time, which can be expensive.
There are three common types of gig websites:
Those that provide freelance work opportunities.
Those that list gigs from others seeking to hire.
Those that connect both employers and freelancers.
Freelance websites offer a wide array of jobs, ranging from short-term gigs to full-time positions. A significant advantage of freelancing is the increased control individuals have over their lives, as they can work when and how they prefer. Gig listing sites enable employers to post their needs from freelancers, which may include tasks like writing, graphic design, multimedia projects, or programming. These sites benefit employers by allowing them to select from a pool of freelancers ready to complete their projects.
These websites also enable freelancers and employers to connect directly, eliminating the need for intermediaries.
Upwork (www.upwork.com) is an example of a freelance website that offers a broad spectrum of jobs, including short-term, full-time, and hourly projects. For those who have recently graduated college without job prospects, Upwork can be a valuable platform.
Fiverr (www.fiverr.com) is another platform that provides gigs in various areas. While some experience is generally required to post gigs on Fiverr, it does offer opportunities for beginners.
Freelancer (www.freelancer.com) is another website facilitating freelancing work. Employers can post their needs or requests, and freelancers can bid on them. For example, an employer seeking a writer might request bids for a price per 500 words. Freelancers can then submit their bidding prices, and the winning bid is selected based on factors such as price, experience, and other criteria. This system is advantageous because employers gain access to qualified applicants without needing to use intermediaries like recruitment companies or job boards. Freelancers also benefit by having the freedom to choose the projects they want to bid on.
Regardless of your skill set or professional background, you can likely find a site to participate in the gig economy. Whether you’re looking to earn extra income through freelance writing, design work, editing, programming/coding/web development, finance and accounting, sales and marketing, research, data entry/research, administrative support, or if you possess specialized skills in healthcare, legal, engineering and architecture, public relations/communications/media/journalism, or education, there’s a good chance you can find gigs.
To illustrate the potential of the gig economy, consider that Upwork has 50 million members, 11 million jobs posted at any given time, and 3 million jobs annually, with an average hourly rate of $19. On this platform alone, there are 5 million more jobs daily than the total number of Zimbabweans. If someone worked 5-hour days, 5 days a week, they could potentially earn US$1,900 per week.
Strong communication skills are a crucial factor employers consider when selecting freelancers. This is why highly paid freelancers are often native English speakers. However, freelancers from countries where English is a second language, such as the Philippines and South Africa, are also successful due to their perceived strong communication abilities.
Zimbabweans are known globally for being educated and articulate, giving them a competitive edge. While many companies, particularly locally, still prefer hiring full-time employees, the internet has created opportunities for individuals to work for employers anywhere in the world. The traditional process of applying for jobs and attending interviews is becoming less common, as the way we work undergoes a revolution. Our youth must abandon negative and defeatist attitudes and embrace the challenge of creating their own employment.
It’s possible to start with no experience and no capital. All that’s needed is an internet connection, a positive mindset, and the determination to succeed.
