The document discusses the rise of the gig economy and non-traditional forms of employment facilitated by digital platforms. It defines the gig economy and explores segments of gig workers, estimates of participation, benefits like flexibility but also risks like insecurity. It notes debates around whether gig workers are truly independent and discusses implications for the future of work as full-time permanent jobs decline and portfolio careers rise. The document aims to continue the conversation on these issues through a panel discussion and workshop.

1. The Expansive Learning Network presents
Exploring the
Gig Economy

2. The gig economy and the
future of work
Meave Noonan
PhD Candidate, RMIT University
Researcher-in-residence, Geelong Region LLEN

3. What is the gig economy?
• The rise of non-traditional ways of working and providing goods
and services
o temporary, task-by-task forms of employment
• Emergence of digital talent platforms
o e.g. Uber, Airtasker, Deliveroo
• Also known as the ‘sharing economy’
‘collaborative economy’
or ‘on-demand economy’

4. ‘Independent’ workers – 4 segments
• free agents, actively choose independent work and derive
their primary income from it
• casual earners use independent work for supplemental income
and do so by choice
• reluctants make their primary living from independent work
but would prefer traditional jobs
• the financially strapped do supplemental independent work
out of necessity (McKinsey Global Institute 2016)
What is the gig economy?

5. • Estimates from the US and UK vary
• 30% of Australian workers are operating in non-traditional types of
work (Grattan Institute 2016)
• 70% of Australians <34 are open to using a digital talent platform,
such as Airtasker, Freelancer, or Uber to source income in the next
year (Foundation for Young Australians 2015)
How many people are employed in the gig
economy?

6. • Autonomy and
accessibility
• Low barriers to entry
o download the app and
start working
What are the benefits of the gig economy?
• Flexibility of working hours
• A way to ‘top up’ earnings
• Benefits to the wider economy - create jobs
and raise GDP

7. • Inherently insecure and unpredictable
• ‘Zero hours’ contracts and underemployment
• Globalisation of the workforce
What are some of the risks?

8. The gig economy – controversy and debate

9. The gig economy – controversy and debate
• Is the gig economy actually a new
phenomenon?
o Home work/ piece work/ on-call work
• Are gig workers ‘independent contractors’,
‘workers’ or ‘employees’?
• Rights to the minimum wage, unfair
dismissal protections, holiday and sick pay,
superannuation?

10. The gig economy and the future of work
Source: Connolly, E & Lewis, C (2010) Structural Change in the Australian Economy, Reserve Bank of Australia
Bulletin

11. The gig economy and the future of work
90
92
94
96
98
100
102
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Index base = 100
Source: ABS Cat no 6291.0.55.001
Change in workforce composition, Australia
12 month moving average, January 2000 to October 2015
% of workforce working full-time
% of Males working full-time
% of Females working full-time

12. The gig economy and the future of work
• Full-time permanent
employment model is in
decline
• Portfolio careers
• Today’s young people will likely have several
different careers across several different industries
within their lifetime
• Shake-up of existing education, training, careers,
skills development approaches

13. Continue the conversation!

14. Thank you

15. The Expansive Learning Network presents
Exploring the
Gig Economy

16. Ross George

17. Sue Cartwright
Carli Saw

18. Wayne Elliott
Naomi Lawrance
Accredited Practising
Dietician

19. Colin Vernon

20. Q & A
with the panel

21. Workshop

22. • What are the main issues you believe
need to be explored more, or addressed,
if those in the community are to have the
best opportunities to find meaningful
work in a gig economy labour market?
• What regional strategies do you believe
would help most for a successful
transition to this new way of working?
Questions for workshop

23. Thankyou to our sponsors and supporters

24. Thankyou to our sponsors and supporters