Future of Work
A curated resource of recent research on trends shaping Canada's labor market.
Gig workers (GWs) are over-represented in the services industry, which has been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The authors argue that the impact of COVID-19 on GWs is likely to be unevenly distributed, largely depending on the nature and type of gig work. Immediate effects will depend on certain characteristics, mainly age, place of residence and industry of work. Younger GWs are more likely to be affected than older ones, who may have diverse sources of income (e.g., pension). GWs in professional, scientific and technical services may be able to continue working during the pandemic compared to those requiring face-to-face interactions with customers. The authors also predict that COVID-19 may accelerate the expansion of online platforms and crowdsourcing spaces, which in turn could increase the size of the gig economy.