‘Freelancer economy’: an alternative for the Brexit effects?

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The United Kingdom, like the United States, has a considerable workforce in the area of self-employed or 'freelance'

The economic dynamics in the workers has been transformed in recent times. Previously, it was common for a professional to seek to enter a large company, make a career and get a good salary, now things have changed. The freelance economy has been a solution to earn an extra salary or have two or three jobs at the same time, despite the fact that their legal requirements such as health and pension are paid by the employee.

Leer en español: ‘Economía freelancer’: ¿una salida a los efectos del Brexit?

This is how the freelance economy has marked a milestone in the workplace in powers such as the United Kingdom, where 62 percent of companies expect to hire workers in this condition once the Brexit comes in, a figure given by the firm Worksome and published For Forbes.

This number of employees per time is much higher than that registered in the United States, another 'giant' of the freelance. A study by Edelman Intelligence revealed that in North America 36 percent of the population has income in this way, corresponding to 57.3 million people, a considerable workforce, while by 2027 it is estimated that 50 percent of the workers are freelancers.

Doubts about Brexit create careful employers

The workforce for these companies that look for staff for uncertain times and without following a specific schedule, is in a certain part beneficial, since they can save a good amount of money in contributions such as pension, health, compensation box, among others. benefits such as those that people directly hire have.

But how much does Brexit affect? "The culture of the company will be fundamental so that it can overcome the Brexit storm. To create and maintain a loyal workforce in the midst of uncertain times, and maintain the health of a company; The logical approach for employers is to hire a combination of full-time employees and independent workers, "Morten Peterson, co-founder of Worksome, told Forbes.

Read also: Brexit: the consequences of uncertainty

Despite the fact that 87 percent of companies in the United Kingdom reject freelance, half of the companies consider that they are more productive than full-time employees.

"Companies must understand and invest in the independent economy, as this will support the ability to expand and contract as market conditions change. The initial costs have historically deterred many companies from even considering the group of independent talents. But as technology evolves and the recruitment challenge is streamlined, supply and demand will facilitate the ability to expand and hire teams, providing more cost-effective and efficient solutions that can help cushion the blow of Brexit, "Peterson analyzes.

Latin America is no stranger to this type of work that is gaining strength among young professionals. A survey carried out by Upwork and Freelancers Union to 6 thousand employees, called Freelancing in America 2018, indicated 1 out of 3 people took on freelance work, and that in recent years this type of 'contracting' went from 3.7 to 56 million workers.

LatinAmerican Post | Jorge Hernández

Translated from "‘Economía freelancer’, ¿una salida a los efectos del Brexit?"