It's not just robots that workers need to be concerned about—it's the gig economy, which is swallowing permanent positions left and right.
So says a report from Randstad Sourceright, which finds that 61 percent of employers plan to replace up to 30 percent of their permanent positions with freelancers, gig workers and independent contractors in the next year, in an effort to become more agile and flexible in the changing economy. Nearly 40 percent of employers surveyed expect they will be able to reduce the impact of talent scarcity by having an integrated hiring strategy.
Nearly 70 percent of employers surveyed believe the skills gap is widening and will create significant challenges in the near future, the report says, and that belief is driving "a vast majority of companies" to agree that all available resources should be considered to combat recruitment challenges.
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"November's strong employment figures include a sizable contribution from freelancers, gig workers and independent contractors hired to fill a broad range of critical positions this holiday season. In fact, our data shows employers plan to take advantage of the growing gig economy well past this holiday season and into the New Year, Rebecca Henderson, says CEO of Randstad Sourceright. "Companies are increasingly embracing gig workers, and even robots, in their overall workforce to address the increasingly tight labor market in the U.S. and around the world."
Henderson adds, "While in the last decade contingent workers have been viewed very differently as compared to full-time positions, today's companies are welcoming the opportunity to employ a more agile workforce, particularly as a greater number of gig workers embrace flexible work practices as well."
HRDive reports that, as the gig economy grows, job transformation is raising questions about the lack of benefits, such as health care, workers' compensation and other protections for gig workers. Citing a National Public Radio report, HRDive cites Jessica Martinez, co-executive director of the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health, as saying that gig workers hold some of the most dangerous jobs and need protective benefits. Martinez points to the accidental death of a food delivery worker for DoorDash as an example.
In addition, NPR points out, the National Employment Law Project says that more than 129 million U.S. workers have worker's compensation coverage—but not independent contractors or gig workers, as a rule. That saves employers money but doesn't help workers.
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