The Gig Economy Is Oversold – To Employers

An article in the Harvard Business Review looks at some myths about the so-called gig economy, including one that says it’s a great deal for employers. While gig hiring definitely has its advantages, they may come at the expense of loyalty and what’s sometimes called “institutional memory.” A gig-based business can’t transmit a culture, the author maintains. Some other myths: that gig jobs are dead end jobs, and that gig-hiring is on the upswing and will soon dwarf the conventional mode. In fact growth has slowed, as gig hiring currently encompasses about 30 percent of the work force, a much smaller percentage than was predicted a few years ago. People seem to want those benefits.