Gig Economy Helps Small Businesses Grow this Holiday Season
New Survey Data from SCORE shows 37% increase in small businesses employing gig workers
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| Image courtesy of Pablo by Buffer |
New survey data from SCORE shows small businesses’ increasing reliance on part-time and gig workers this holiday season. Small business owners reported a 37% increase in hiring gig workers over the past six months (more than any other type of worker), citing specialized expertise and temporary/seasonal needs as top reasons for hiring this part-time or temporary help.
This infographic below accompanies the latest installment of SCORE’s Megaphone of Main Street data report series, which presents original, statistically-significant survey data on the American small business landscape.
Takeaways
Small Businesses Are Hiring – Especially for Gig Workers/Contractors
- Small business owners reported a hiring increase in all categories of workers over the past six months, but the greatest growth was seen in gig workers (37% increase), followed by part-time employees (22% increase).
- 20% of small business owners reported replacing employees (of any type) with contractors.
Solopreneurs Create Significant Impact on Employment
- 47% of non-employer/solopreneur firms reported hiring other part-time workers, for an average of 3.2 workers (including the owner).
Employees and Contractors Offer Different Advantages
- Top reasons business owners hire a contractor/temporary worker versus an employee include specialized expertise (50.8%), temporary or seasonal needs (41%), and cash reserves to comfortably make payroll (35.1%).
- The top business functions outsourced to contactors are technology (42%), accounting (41%) and marketing (38%).
- Business owners reported that top reasons to hire an employee include consistency of work (57%), followed by a full-time worker’s commitment to the company, vision and brand (53%).
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