Nairametrics
Fisayo Adeniji (22) has just signed his first six-figure contract as a junior engineer with a foreign company. He got the opportunity after learning how to code, develop software, and how design user interfaces during the lockdown. As he mastered the craft, predictably, he signed his first six-figure contract last July to help design the app for a start-up company with the promise of being kept on retainer pending his graduation.
Fisayo is just one example of a now entrenched trend where skilled young people armed with the internet and a smartphone can earn money, mostly in foreign currency by doing remote work for companies. With these, many have taken to websites that connect them with freelance jobs. These jobs or ‘gigs’ are often solicited by employers and businesses that want quick and simple tasks achieved without the hassle of vetting and in-house training.
What is the Gig economy?
The gig economy is part of the labor force that is made up of workers who earn money from short-term contracts or freelance work rather than full-time jobs. In most cases, these jobs look at experience rather than qualifications; so, they are easier to get. For instance, a start-up can hire a UX designer or writer to work with them up until the launch, based on how attractive their portfolio is, instead of what degrees they have amassed.
Other examples are driving for a ride-sharing service, painting someone’s house, freelance work, coaching, fitness training, and tutoring. The job is exchanged for cash and there are no other benefits, such as health insurance.
Common gig economy jobs are found in almost every industry, including, but not limited to accounting and finance, construction, education, information technology, freelance writing, software development, and transportation…
