A significant 59 per cent of organisations from across over 48 countries and over 50 industries, benefitted from hiring gig workers. As per the Mercer Mettl Talent-Acquisition Insights 2024 report, these organisations admitted to hiring one or more freelancers or contract workers last year. Freelancers have played a major role in the rapidly-evolving nature of work, providing firms with much- sought-after agility and cost-effectiveness in fulfilling the demands of their projects. The report highlights how the gig economy has come to be an essential part of modern workforce strategies.
It also reveals how more organisations and employers across the globe are keen to adopt flexible workforce models, which allow them to access and leverage specialised skills and scale their teams dynamically. In other words, with increased adoption of flexible workforce solutions, companies are able to hire talented workers with specialised skills on the basis of specific projects.
As per the Mercer Mettl study, 59 per cent of organisations reaped the benefits of the gig economy by hiring one or more freelancers or contract workers. About 22 per cent of the respondents, including 7,500 HR leaders, admitted to embracing the gig economy saying that 40 per cent or more of their new hires were freelancers or contractors.
For any organisation, having employees from across multiple cities and nations working for them helps increase the depth of experience they are able to welcome into the organisation. About 61per cent of organisations realised this as they hired one or more remote workers in the last one year. This is in reponse to the evolving workforce preferences and the ongoing impact of global events.
Remote hiring helps employers reach out to a broader talent pool, with diverse skill sets, irrespective of their geographical location. This shift is also reflective of a transformative approach to talent acquisition, with focus on flexibility and adaptability.
About 18 per cent of organisations were inclined towards remote work and willing to hire 50 per cent or more of their new workforce in remote positions. Clearly, more organisations are accepting hybrid and virtual work models, allowing companies to access global talent pools and keep pace with the evolving workplace dynamics. Traditional hiring practices are also changing giving way to a growing prevalence of “remote work as a cornerstone of organisational strategy” said the report.
