The trend towards a gig economy has begun. It is an environment in which temporary positions are common and companies frequently contract with individuals for short-term engagements.
This phenomenon is getting more apparent nowadays and we can see it all around us. Uber, AirBnB and fintech startups are some examples of the active users of short-term contract work with independent workers. It is estimated that by 2020, almost 40% of American workers would be independent contractors.
The implication for my age group is worrying but yet it is timely. Most of us are experiencing our half time now. We would probably like to take a step back and ease up on the rat race to pursue the things that we have an interest in, while leveraging on our previous work experience to do some part time work. I am starting to see quite a number of my friends doing this, given that most have already built up a stable financial base and now have older kids who are more independent. It allows them to serious think about what they want to do next and plan their next 5-10 years career paths.
As technology starts to accelerate and take over more jobs, older workers cannot avoid being marginalized. We can either admit defeat and retire or fight back and try to reinvent ourselves, learn new skills. The gig economy is a perfect interim phase for us to gravitate towards while we develop ourselves for the new economy.
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