Nearly half of all employed Australians say they will be on the lookout for a new job in 2015 and over two thirds are considering using online sharing economy platforms like Airtasker, Freelancer, UberX and 99designs to supplement their income this year.
A research report produced by Pureprofile for online job platform Airtasker is evidence of major changes in the labour force, including a shift away from the traditional 9-5pm office working model in favour of increased flexibility and freelancing.
The research, based on a representative survey of 1,004 employed Australians nationwide, also found 92% of Australians are looking for ways to supplement their income in 2015.
‘Australians are increasingly embracing online peer-to-peer platforms to find work which allows them to be their own boss and earn a decent living by capitalising on their skills, from logo design to transport to assembling furniture to even mechanical engineering,’ said Airtasker co-founder and CEO Tim Fung.
Opportunities for creatives and arts professionals online are growing. For designers and visual artists 99designs runs online graphic design contests for clients on demand. More generalist sites such as Airtasker and Freelancer are more likely to offer administrative, cleaning or labouring work but there is also the chance of picking up writing, design and even architecture work. There is also often a call for people with technical skills such as Photoshop. There are also additional ways of supplementing your income, such as renting out a room via Airbnb.
The major results of the Airtasker/Pureprofile research include:
- 43.5% of working Australians say they are either “likely” or “very likely” to look for a new job in 2015
- 84.8% strongly agree or moderately agree that: ““The traditional employment model of the 9-5 office job is inflexible for workers in 2015 and into the future”
- 76.4% strongly agree or moderately agree that: “The flexibility of freelancing/ working for yourself makes up for the lack of certainty/predictability of work”
- 92% of Australians are looking to supplement their income in 2015
- 68% of Australians are considering earning some extra money in 2015 through online platforms such as Airtasker, Freelancer, 99designs, UberX, AirBnB etc.
- 4% of Australians are already using these online platforms to earn some extra money (10% of those aged 25-34)
- Asked what the most important thing in a job was, the respondents’ overall ranking in order of importance was: pay, flexibility to choose hours, predictability of work and satisfaction of helping others.
The growing online economy comes as new statistics from an AAP Survey show number of jobs being created in the formal economy may not be enough to keep up with demand
Fung said as economic growth slows in 2015 sharing economy platforms like Airtasker have a major role to play in supporting employment.
‘Airtasker is now processing over $10 million worth of jobs per annum from over 200,000 users, ranging from household chores to professional services,’ said Fung.
UberX, which allows virtually anyone to become a taxi driver using their own car, is adding 1,100 new drivers per month around the country who are each driving about 20 hours a week and earning on average $30 an hour.
The Airtasker/Pureprofile research revealed 64.7% of Australians believe working in a more flexible environment would lead to increased motivation and productivity and 73.2% believe it would increase enjoyment at work.
‘Workers are crying out for increased flexibility from their employers and online platforms are booming because they allow people to choose what they work on and earn a solid return for their efforts,’ Fung said.
Former chef and now self-made handyman, Stuart Orth, from Sydney, is one of the most successful micro-entrepreneurs on Airtasker, having tripled his income to up to $3000 per week.
‘Through Airtasker, I get instant validation of my work and flexibility in my working hours. As a chef, you do what the boss wants. It’s a very taxing and ungrateful profession. I wasn’t ever considering starting my own handyman business, but it just landed in my lap! Airtasker gave me the opportunity to do this.’
Stuart’s jobs range from laying turf, preparing garden beds, removing fences, cleaning paths, to moving furniture. ‘While these are everyday tasks, I know that sometimes, people just want the company. It’s not so much the task I’m doing for them, sometimes it’s the company I’m providing for people – just being there for them and having a chat with them.
‘More than flexibility and job satisfaction, the biggest impact Airtasker has had on my life is on my health. Like most people, I am a busy man with little time for exercise. As a labourer, I am on my feet all day and I get exercise by working.’
