Dive Brief:

• A Randstad U.S. study shows that most workers (70%) and employers (68%) think contractors, freelancers, temporary workers and consultants will dominate the workplace by 2025. The HR service and staffing company’s Workplace 2025 report notes a shift away from the traditional 9 to 5 job.
• The study of 1,500 HR and c-suite company executives and 3,100 employees found that half the workforce will be what it calls “agile workers” as soon as 2019. Of the respondents in the study, 39% said they’ll likely consider making the shift to agile employment in the next two to three years.
• Randstad says that employers are trying to prepare for the shift to an agile workforce, also known as a gig economy, by accommodating both traditional workers and their agile counterparts to head off staff shortages, take advantage of global forces and drive innovation.

Dive Insight:

The Randstad study affirms what other studies and surveys have concluded: most workers will soon be agile. What appeared to be a trend fueled by independently thinking workers willing to go solo into the job market is an actual makeover of the workforce.

But among the agile workers are involuntary part-time workers who want full-time employment and, with it, higher wages. Agile employment, or the gig economy, won’t be suitable for many of them, especially low-skilled workers. Where the jobs will be for them is the big question.