THE GIG ECONOMY IMPACT ON THE MARINA INDUSTRY – WHAT IS THE GIG ECONOMY AND HOW DOES IT WORK?
The gig economy, also known as the sharing or access economy, refers to the practice of hiring freelance or short-term contract labor or services as opposed to permanent jobs and amenities, akin to a music band landing a “gig” at a bar or nightclub. Participants include freelancers, contractors, temps and on-demand workers.
Though temporary staffing and freelancing is nothing new in the labor economy (temporary staffing services like Manpower and Kelly Services have been around since World War II), there has been significant growth in the last 10 years. It’s no surprise that the gig economy has grown in conjunction with the Internet, as these technologies have been increasingly intertwined.
By itself, a gig represents only a small portion of one’s income. A worker can outsource a variety of tasks or jobs to different clients and companies. People can choose to pursue continuous work, or simply use short-term gigs as a way to enhance their income.
The emergence of several now commonly known services, such as Uber, Lyft and Airbnb, have become popularized by millennials, a user base with strong ties to social media and mobile communications. With a plethora of apps driving these services, getting a “gig” s as easy as registering with one of the many services and keeping track of work opportunities with your smartphone app.
HOW CAN YOU PUT THE GIG ECONOMY TO WORK FOR YOU?
A majority of marinas are seasonal, and filling out staff can be difficult at times, especially for shorter periods of employment or to cover the need for extra labor for things like holidays and special events. In more populous locations with access to staffing services this may not be as much of a problem, but in rural settings, apps/services such as TaskRabbit and Thumbtack may be a better and quicker option for filling those positions.
Additionally, because these gig economy filled positions are contract based, a significant savings can be had over traditional full-time employees, with a lower cost base and overhead (no vacation pay, benefits, etc.). From a human resource aspect, the benefits are obvious, especially for businesses that depend on seasonal labor.
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