Who doesn't want to be the boss of their own career? These days, it's easier than ever to be your own boss with the rise of the gig economy. And according to a recent study by UpWork and the Freelancers Union, the number of Americans working in freelance or contract jobs is only going to continue to grow.
Although there are a lot of different types of gig work, not all of them are created equal. Some of them might be more lucrative or have better benefits than others. We can't forget the competition either! So what are the best gig jobs in America right now? In this article, we'll take a look at the top 10 best gig jobs. So if you are looking to become the boss, you might want to keep reading.
What are gig jobs anyway?
Gig jobs are any type of work that is done outside of a traditional, full-time job. This can include freelance work, contract work, online platform work, working for a contracting firm, on-call work, or temporary work. In simple words, you will be working for a company or client as temporary workers or freelance workers.
You will not be working with the company full-time, and they will most likely not give you benefits like health insurance, paid sick days, or vacation time. The organization may also tell you when to work and how much to work at any given time. If they don't, you can still set your own hours and work schedule.
What are the benefits of gig jobs?
As you can tell by now, there are a lot of benefits to gig work. Here are just a few:
You can work from anywhere
You set your own hours
You can make your own schedule
You can take multiple projects at once
You can work from home
You can choose your clients
There are a lot of benefits to gig work, but the number one benefit is freedom. With freelancing, you have the freedom to work when and where you want.
What are the disadvantages of gig jobs?
As we all know, everything good comes with a price so do gig jobs. Here are some of the disadvantages or drawbacks of freelancing:
High competition
Freelancers may be underpaid
No job security
Little to no training offered
Isolation may be a problem
The main disadvantage of gig work is the competition and low payments. Because there are so many freelancers out there, it can be tough to find work, and even if you do, you might not get paid much for your time. At least not until you have good reviews and a good amount of experience.
What are the best gig jobs?
Now that we know a little bit about gig work, let's take a look at the top 10 best gig jobs.
1. Online platform workers
Online platform apps are one of the most common types of gig work. This type of work includes working on apps like Uber, Lyft, Postmates, or TaskRabbit. Their jobs include doing things like making deliveries for food or groceries. Driving people around town or giving tours of popular tourist destinations like museums or national parks.
2. On-call workers
On-call work is another common form of gig work. These jobs are usually pretty simple; you might be required to come in when the company needs you, and they will let you know ahead of time if they need you to come in for a shift. If not, you can work on your own time.
3. Freelancers
Freelancing is one of the most popular types of gig work because it's easy to do and it offers so many rewards. This is probably where you want to start if you are looking for part-time or freelance work. But beware, it can be hard to get started since the competition is high. You can expect jobs from a variety of different niches like writing, design, programming, or business consulting, etc.
4. Contract firm workers
As the name implies, this type of gig work involves working for a company that offers various types of contracts for specific projects or jobs. For example, if you are an artist, you might be contacted by a marketing company to create some artwork for them.
5. Temporary workers
Temporary work is a little different from contract work in that it usually refers to jobs that are shorter in duration. For example, a company might need someone to help them out for a few months while they are looking for a permanent employee. Or, they might need someone to do a special project that is outside of their normal scope of work.
6. Independent contractors:
Independent contractors are required to work on a contract basis because they do not have set hours or positions. They bid for contracts and projects, and they can also accept multiple bids at once. They usually work online, but some companies still hire independent contractors locally.
7. On-demand workers:
On-demand work is the sister job to gig work. These jobs require you to be available whenever a client needs your services. They usually involve short engagements and quick turnaround times, so they can be lucrative if you are highly skilled and in demand. By 2022, this type of work will likely be one of the most popular types of gig work.
8. Social media managers:
Social media managers are in high demand, especially since most businesses have realized the importance of having a social media presence. This type of gig work usually involves developing and executing a social media plan for a business, monitoring and responding to comments and messages, and analyzing data to see how well the plan is working.
9. Virtual assistants:
Virtual assistants provide administrative support to clients remotely. This can include things like managing schedules, answering emails, handling payments and bookkeeping, or doing research. These jobs are becoming increasingly popular as time goes on. Most of the time you will get paid hourly but in some cases, you can get paid monthly, per task, or even on a commission basis if your assistant work involves selling products.
10. Remote workers:
Remote workers are probably the most in-demand type of gig workers. They are workers who can do their job from anywhere in the world as long as they have an internet connection. As a remote worker, you will have a wide range of options open to you, including jobs like writing, programming, web development, customer service, editing, and many more. The only downside is that it can be hard to find a good remote job that pays well.
Conclusion:
The gig economy is booming and it's only going to get bigger. In this article, we have shared 10 of the best gig jobs that will be in high demand. If you're looking for a flexible, rewarding, and interesting job, then one of these gigs might be right for you. So get out there and start freelancing, contracting, or temp working today!