[Army Air Corps]

I do not mean to pry, but may I ask what sort of freelance work you do? The reward seems to vary according to the particular field of freelance endeavor.

[SoCal Pubbie]

Before I answer, let me state that I am NOT one of those who think companies exist to provide jobs. I don’t even mind freelancing. But my observation is that “the gig economy” is a bad deal for workers. It totally shifts all the power back to the employer, after decades of movement in the other direction as a result of unionization and government regulation, both of which I find very anti-competitive in the world marketplace.

I am a designer, specifically I design exhibits and displays. In truth my specialty is not yet fully immersed in this new freelance world, but graphic design is. It’s impossible to plan your life in this system. I find the job alerts are always for gigs that start tomorrow, and you’re competing against multiple other candidates, many who have more specific experience than you do. The job may last two weeks as stated, but it might end in a few days in which case you’re scrambling to find another gig. There is zero investment in you as a worker, unlike in the older system where employers might pay for additional training and education. On top of all that pay rates on many offers are ridiculously low, as another poster wrote.

Freelance work as a category is fine. I see that as different then the “gig economy,” which seems like a license for amoral millennial aged middle managers to go all Simon Lagree on your ass.