Selling in the New Gig Economy

One of the most profound changes we’ve seen in business and labor in recent years is the growth of the gig economy. According to a Gallup study, about 36 percent of U.S. workers derive some or all of their income through independent gigs. While the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics admits that the number of gig workers in the country is difficult to confirm, in 2017 their best estimate was 55 million. 

Since 2010, the number of gig workers has increased by 15 percent. Forbes magazine concludes that the gig workforce is growing at a rate that’s three times higher than the general workforce rate. Many estimates suggest the growth rate will accelerate in years to come. What’s more, according to MBO Partners, gig workers contributed more than $1.3 trillion to the economy in 2017. That same study reports that high-skill, high-earning gig workers comprise one of the fastest-growing segments of the freelance workforce. 

Any way you slice it, the gig economy represents an enormous opportunity for B2B companies of many stripes and it’s here to stay. If growing your company is one of your foremost goals, focusing on the gig economy is a smart strategy. Or, to rephrase that a little more forcefully:  Companies with products and services to sell ignore the gig economy at their own risk…