The gig economy is on the rise and gig economy jobs are on everyone’s mind. Whether you have specific talents and skills to share in the gig economy or want to look into hiring from the gig economy, here’s what you need to know. Remember, this economy is only growing; it’s probably time to get in on it.

Gig jobs

Gig jobs are all those jobs that people have where they are in charge. It’s not always that simple, but in a nutshell, that’s it. Maybe they freelance, maybe they work on an independent basis. They often contract for set periods of time or work on one of the many online platforms. For many people, gig jobs provide a nice supplemental income, for others, they combine a few gigs to bring enough income to call it a day. US News shares some of the other names you may hear gig jobs go by, like freelance, temp jobs, side hustles, and contract work.

Flexibility and types of gig work

One of the key reasons people seek out gig work is the flexibility it offers. Gig jobs provide nontraditional hours and people can work around another job or family life. Here are a few scenarios showcasing the flexibility of the gig economy:

  • Contract work:

    Some people like to take on short-term contracts for gig work. For instance, a software engineer can work with a start-up for a few months getting them off the ground, then move on to the next gig. The pros here are that the engineer has flexibility with this particular job, and the startup doesn’t have to have another full-time employee to take care of with benefits, salaries, etc. A contract worker can take time off between gigs or change it up so they stay fresh.

  • Consultant: 

    Here’s our consultant’s scenario. You’ve got a college professor who loves sharing knowledge with young, eager minds. This professor also has a great knack for working with big business. They can do consultant work. Whether this is a psych professor, an engineer, or a law professor (or pretty much any field), teachers and professors can often find gig work by doing consulting in their field.

  • Freelance work:

    Let’s take a look at…a photographer. Sure, a photographer can work for a studio or a newspaper, or any number of places. But they can also work on their own and take on freelance work. The Balance Small Business tells us that a freelancer offers services for a fee to several clients at once or one at a time. The working relationship can be a one-time thing or ongoing. For instance, the photographer may finish one project and begin another for the same client. An example is that our photographer may be hired by a few different club sports teams at once. She works throughout the season, finishes the job, and perhaps works for the franchise again next season.

  • Temp jobs: 

    Temp jobs have a lot of crossover with contract work. However, there are some small differences. Think about substitute teachers. Those are temp jobs. Or filling in for someone in an office, that’s a temp job, too. Sometimes these are just day-to-day gigs, sometimes they can be longer. Again, some people take on temp jobs in the gig economy, and while they mostly work one at a time, they can keep a few logs in the fire this way.

  • Side hustle:

    Ahh, the side hustle. Perhaps this is a fairly new term, but it’s one in many people’s vocabulary these days. The side hustle can encompass a lot of gig work and can be quite lucrative. From Etsy shop owners to dog walkers to after-school tutors, these jobs can become full-time jobs. Some people take on a few side hustles at a time, some take on one while they work a full-time job, and many do this to bring in supplemental income while maintaining their independence, flexibility, and family or school time. We love the example of the mom who is starting a candle business while her kids are at school or the retired teacher who continues to tutor in the afternoons. The list of side hustles can go on and on, so let’s look at some more examples in the next section.

gig economy jobs

What are some high-paying gig economy jobs?

Of course, some gig jobs are going to pay more than others. While the rate can depend on location or skill set, other factors can be experience and reputation. For instance, let’s look at a dog walker. If they work in New York City, they can probably charge more than if they worked in rural Georgia. If they have a legit business with branding and accountability, they may be able to ask for more than if they are a teenager just starting. Lots of things come into consideration, but of course, one of the biggest factors is what the job actually is. Let’s take a look at some of the more lucrative gig economy jobs.

According to the US News article, some of the highest-paid gig economy jobs are:

Some other great gig work is voice talent, editing (including written, audio, and video), translation, and transcription work. All of those are here at Bunny Studio. The great thing about the above jobs is that they require very little overhead. Whether you work on your own, with a platform like Bunny Studio, or in other contract capacities, you will be able to work, make good money, and have little expenses. Many of these can be done right from home, too, which is what a lot of people like about gig work.

Other gig jobs worth looking into

You can see from the above list that not all jobs need highly specialized degrees. For instance, a driver can make a nice, extra income even without a formal background in this field. Ont the other hand, an IT consultant will probably need some formal training or education in the field to be able to charge a high fee. So another factor of how much you can make is where your skills and training lie. If you’re wondering about that or looking to start something new, check out some of the following gig jobs, all great choices if they fit your skillset.

  • Private tutor – Great if you are highly skilled in an academic area and have a knack for teaching.
  • Personal host – If you have a spare bedroom in your home or rental property, rent it out.
  • Internet gig work – These may not pay top dollar but the short time it takes may add up. Things like taking surveys and data entry fall into this category.
  • Elderly companion – If you’re certified it’s all the better, but sometimes senior citizens just need someone to talk to or run errands.
  • Dog walker – Of course, this one is self-explanatory, but more and more people don’t want their furry friend alone all day so will pay top dollar for a pet friend.
  • Handyman – These crafters can be tough to find, so if you have some handy skills, there could be lots of work waiting for you.

The key here is to find something you are good at and something you enjoy. Don’t be afraid to stack your gigs. Maybe you love making those candles and selling them on Etsy and are a great math tutor, too. Go for both!

How to hire a gig worker

Now that we’ve covered a bit on what gig work is and some specifics, let’s chat about how to hire a gig worker. Just like those working know that there are lots of pros to gig work, those hiring know the advantages of gig work, too.

To start your hiring process, look for reputable gig workers. Whether you ask your neighbor about their dog walker or read reviews for a hiring site, check out where your gig worker is coming from and what they’ve done before. For instance, at Bunny Studio, we do this for you and have checked out our Pros’ backgrounds and previous work. We know they’re great! Plus, customers leave reviews here so you can have a look at how clients see their work.

Things like timelines and rates must match up with your needs. This relates to pretty much any gig job you can think of. If your daughter only has one free afternoon for her math tutor, you’ll have to find one with that day available. If you need your documents proofread by next week, well, you need someone who can do that. No matter how good someone is, if they can’t fit your timeline, keep looking.

The same goes for rates. If you have a bit of flexibility, work with that, but be careful not to go too over budget because that can come back to haunt you. Some platforms, like ours at Bunny Studio, have a wide array of rates and timelines to work with.

So no matter if you’re looking in person or virtual, find the right reputation, skillset, rates, and timelines.

The big takeaway on gig economy jobs

It looks as if gig economy jobs are here to stay as more and more people delve into it. Some see it as a side hustle to pay for their kids’ activities or manage their car payments. Others look at their gig as a way to reach independence, flexibility, and perhaps their own small business. Whether you want it as full-time, part-time, or on your own time, it’s a smart way to go.

For those looking to hire gig workers, give it a go. There’s usually not much commitment, but if you’re happy with the work, you can make it a consistent thing. We here at Bunny Studio are excited about the new flexibility of this concept and love sharing our take on the gig economy. It’s a good idea to learn about the gig economy before jumping in, but once you understand it, jump away.

If you’d like to consider hiring our pros and services, we’d love to help. And if your skillset lies in creative content, we’d love to hear from you, too. We’re always happy to chat at Bunny Studio and can’t wait to hear from you!