ABSTRACT
The term “gig economy” has been applied to recent trends in the employment market where, since the recession in 2008, the number of regular forty-hour-a-week jobs available for graduates has plummeted. This has led to large numbers of graduates working well below their qualifications, with an accompanying growth of freelancing and small studio startups. This changing employment landscape was aided by the growth in social media and Internet connectivity, which facilitated networking, video conferencing, and new ways to work from home that were not previously readily available. While the employment situation for recent college graduates is currently improving, the gig economy remains firmly established and promises to become an important alternative to the traditional salaried employment model…at least for some people. This chapter expands on the material from Chapter 26, “Going it Alone,” and discusses the impacts and possible opportunities this emerging gig economy provides.
