Education is an important medium of acquiring skills and knowledge. Our education begins at home. Thereafter, as we grow we go to schools, colleges and other educational institutes.
Technology innovation is overturning traditional work structures. Businesses are extending their workforces by hiring record numbers of freelancers, consultants and other non-traditional workers. By supplementing core staff with online talent who lends skills and knowledge just-in-time, these companies are able to access more workers and get work done with increased agility. Meet 36-year old Alexandra: In a typical month she works with five different employers, bids on seven new jobs, is a member of two virtual teams and attends many virtual meetings — including a few in the middle of the night for a client in Stockholm and another in Tel Aviv. She describes herself as a 21st century worker. To the rest of us, she is the new workforce.
Growing at twice the rate of traditional employees, America’s new workforce – freelancers, consultants and temps – now make up 25% of the workforce. A decade ago, many of them were working 9-5 jobs close to home. But as technology innovation opened new possibilities and the economy slowed, they had to invent jobs of their own instead of waiting for job markets to return to “normal.”
Freelancers once relied on business cards and handshakes at networking events, often leaving flyers at local shops and mailing postcards to nearby businesses. Their reach was limited to how far they could drive in a day. Work was inconsistent at best, and getting paid was a constant nightmare. The risk of leaving steady employment kept all but the most fearless workers from striking out on their own.
To say the least, things have changed immensely. Today the opportunity for freelancers is exploding, as is the development of tools allowing people to work independently. A freelancer today can monitor job demand online, connect with businesses anywhere with a few keystrokes, and completely automate payment collection through online freelance platforms like Elance. Shared workspace can be rented through NextSpace and emerging new skills can be learned on General Assembly or Lynda.com. It is an exciting time for those hiring and those ready to adopt a new way of working, and the future only looks brighter.
