If you think independent contract and day work is a cute little idea to make extra money on the side, it’s time to take it more seriously. Contract and day work is the new way to ‘get a job.’ Post your free contract or day work job or or worker ad at www.laborfeed.com
By 2020, the US will see a majority of the workforce will Be independent by 2020 as professionals embrace contract and day work as an increasingly viable option. In fact, more than 50 percent of the private workforce will be independent, according the 2012 Independent Work Preview outlined in the article published by MBO Partners, a resource provider for independent consultants. However, other sources project a 40 percent majority. (See embedded infographic). Either way, the growth of the new independent workforce is inevitable.
MBO Partners‘ top five trend predictions for the next 20 years include:
Prediction Number One — The US is entering the road to the independent majority. This shift toward a new workforce will accelerate in 2012 as both individuals and organizations embrace new models of work. Flexibility and autonomy are two key drivers of this trend with 74 percent of independents indicating that flexibility is more important than making the most money and 60 percent indicating they always wanted to be their own boss.
Prediction Number Two — The future workforce will largely be made up of experts and seasoned skilled workers, including a greater number of mature workers (those aged 55 and older) starting independent careers based on acquired expertise. Of today’s 16 million career independent workers, seven in 10 are experts whose occupation requires specialized training, skills or education, and 40 percent are mature professionals.
Prediction Number Three — Due to the growing adoption of collaborative cloud computing tools and social networks, there is a new level of community building in the workforce. Online communities have been formed around work interests, industries, and skill sets, much like traditional associations or networking groups. Professionals are employing these new social channels to find work and companies are tapping into these specialized networks to locate expert talent. The proliferation of these work-related social communities allows independents to find jobs, create project-based teams/partnerships and support professional development. Further, cloud-services and mobile devices eliminate the barriers imposed by physical location and geography, enabling the workforce to truly become location-independent.
Prediction Number Four — There has been a surge in government regulations and class action lawsuits around the issue of worker mis-classification (where companies are accused of treating employees as independent contractors for the purpose of avoiding payroll taxes, benefits, and other employer obligations). MBO Partners does not see this trend stopping — it will likely remain at pace and should further increase in 2012. In 2011, seven mis-classification laws were passed in six states. MBO Partners believes that the private sector will take the lead on addressing how current work programs, regulations and responsibilities should fit into the new model of work and continue to enable the funding of important government obligations such as tax collection. The new solution set that will succeed will need to add to, not dilute, what is already in place; it must include financial transaction systems combined with an infrastructure platform that addresses the full spectrum of considerations from legal to tax to benefits.
Prediction Number Five — With more than half of the American workforce on track to independence by 2020, old rules and systems will no longer apply. A ‘passport for independence’ — a platform that enables independent workers to move from project to project and company to company with better, more robust systems, safety nets and the tools to support them as compliant, independent businesses — becomes essential. This passport would enable independent workers to build a custom infrastructure that could include retirement and healthcare programs while installing the necessary protection to insulate their clients from mis-classification risks.
Want to hire a contract or day worker? Want to get a job? Post your free contract or day work job or or worker ad at www.laborfeed.com
