Dive Brief:

• Within the gig economy, the wage gap between men and women is around 2%, according to data from 300,000 gig workers using the platform Wonolo, which the company emailed to HR Dive. Across its platform, men made an average $14.69 per hour, while women made 98% of that at $14.38. In the delivery and merchandising industry, women's average pay hovered above men's.
• Warehouse jobs saw the most popularity on the Wonolo platform, most likely because warehouse workers using the platform appear to earn 7.2% more than other warehouse workers, according to Wonolo. The data also revealed a rise in gig-work pay during the winter holidays. In December, workers made an average of $114.46 per full shift, while, in other months, they made between $101.72 and $108.09.
• Wonolo predicted, based on its findings, that more women will fill jobs traditionally held by men in shipping, manufacturing and warehousing in 2019 because of the high-earning potential and flexibility the gig economy provides. Businesses will begin the search for holiday workers earlier than in 2018 and will need to raise pay levels to compete for them, it said, and the gig economy will continue to offer opportunities to diverse groups of people, regardless of gender, race, age or background.

Dive Insight:

Wonolo's data provided a revealing glimpse into the inner workings of the gig economy; perhaps most surprising is workers' preference for warehouse jobs. A recent study from consulting firm North Highland found businesses most often use temporary workers for functions like logistics and delivery, manufacturing operations and production roles, customer experience and engagement and information technology. Some of these roles certainly have a place in a warehouse, but what's more apparent from Wonolo's report is manufacturing's pronounced need for workers.

Factories have had to move quickly in order to replace an aging workforce. In fact, U.S. manufacturers need to fill more than 4 million positions in the next decade, according to Jay Timmons, president and CEO of the National Association of Manufacturers. As the industry searches for solutions, experts have offered that diversity and inclusion initiatives will play a critical role in staffing efforts. Some employers have taken to offering creative benefits like onsite daycare and health providers to entice job seekers. Based on Wonolo's findings, HR professionals in the manufacturing sector might count gig workers as another solution to this labor shortage.