A new sector is dominating today’s workforce in America and transforming career paths, the job search, and the economy: contract workers. A recent research study conducted by the Marist Poll and NPR found that contract workers are the fastest growing group of the American workforce. In fact, the results confirmed that 1 out of every 5 jobs in America is held by a worker under contract. Employees in the contract workforce are rarely tied to a single employer. Instead, they typically work on a single or series of projects for a company or franchise and are paid hourly or on a freelance basis. Highlights of the Marist Poll and NPR study included:
Barbara Carvalho, director of the Marist Poll, said the results revealed not only a new dominant labor population, but also a shift in the job search process. In an NPR Morning Edition segment that aired on Jan. 22 entitled A Close-Up Look At Contract Workers, Carvalho stated: “What we do see is that employment is no longer a one-size-fits-all solution. We often talk about full time or part time, but I think a better characterization is new time because people are really having to put together their own way of figuring out how to make ends meet and how to earn an income.” Because of the uncertainty and instability that comes with impermanent jobs, they are often overlooked by college students after they graduate. However, a growth in contract workers in the economy can mean more specialized roles opening up within organizations and makes it easier for a recent college graduate to expand certain skill sets on their own time or even develop new career goals. More networking opportunities and chances to fill potential time gaps on a resume can also arise from a recent college graduate taking on temporary or contractual work.
Contract workers can also develop a strong work ethic by managing multiple deadlines and projects. While they have the flexibility to make their own hours, work outside the office, and maybe even be their own boss, they must also have the discipline to meet their mounting deadlines that often arrive quickly and simultaneously. Performing contractual work also reflects the diligence needed in any career, as freelancers often need to find their next gig right after or during their previous one to maintain a steady flow of income. The stakes can be high in searching for contract work, but the time management, work ethic and discipline required in this growing sector are all attributes that will serve contract workers well if and when they wish to pursue full-time employment. Click here to see the complete NPR series on the rise of contract workers that was put together with help of the Marist Poll.
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