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The rise in freelance and gig economy jobs

Gig platforms are atomising labour markets and employers are increasing their use of contingent contracts.

Recent years have seen a steady rise in alternative patterns of work, from self-employment to zero-hour contracts, and from agency work to part-time employment. Some of these changes have been driven by demographic shifts, others by cultural attitudes. Technology has also fuelled the atomisation of work, with new gig platforms making it easier for people to buy and sell services on demand. But while breaking free from 9-5 employment has many advantages, it also comes with many risks. Income can be more volatile and protections like sick pay and pension coverage are hard to come by. 

Below are some of the Future Work Awards winners who are improving the livelihoods of workers in alternative arrangements.

Portify are helping gig workers to access fairly priced loans through alternative credit risk scoring, WeMind are supporting freelancers to find affordable housing by offering a rent guarantee to landlords, and SMart are tackling the problem of late payments through a salary guarantee fund that pays its self-employed members within 7 days.

Freelancing and Gig economy

Getting a fair deal for workers in the gig economy...

Portify

Portify uses alternative credit-risk scoring to provide gig workers with fairly priced loans and credit. Through partnerships with gig platforms in the UK, it has already reached 30,000 workers.  

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Portify

Hogaru

Hogaru is a platform for cleaners based in Colombia that directly employs its workers with full benefits. Its 770 workers now have access to health insurance, pension savings, and other financial services including micro loans.   

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Hogaru

Developing new approaches to economic security for independent workers...

 

WeMind

WeMind is a collective of 20,000 freelancers in France, that provides access to a range of insurance products, including a rent guarantee. Its scale has reduced the cost of these services by 30% for all members.  

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WeMind

SMart

SMart is a co-operative for freelancers, with 100,000 members across 9 European countries. Members gain access to a range of support services, including a salary guarantee fund that pays its members within 7 days. 

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SMart

Indycube

Is a cooperative that supports freelancers to reduce vulnerability and insecurity by providing co-working space, legal advice, invoice factoring and political advocacy.

 

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Indycube

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Where next for the gig economy and freelance work? The RSA Future Work Centre explores these questions in more depth: