More Singaporeans embrace gig work for flexibility and autonomy

The increase is evident in the healthcare and hospitality sectors.

More workers in Singapore are turning to gig work for greater flexibility and autonomy, according to Jobs On Demand (Jod).

This trend extends beyond traditional gig sectors and has been increasingly evident in healthcare and hospitality, as revealed in the whitepaper, “Empowering Flexibility: A Deep Dive into Singapore's Gig Work Landscape with Jod."

The rising average earnings across all sectors, particularly in healthcare, hospitality, and food and beverage, may have also contributed to the increase.

According to the whitepaper, average hourly earnings for gig workers range from $14 to $20.

In the healthcare sector, hourly rates range from $13 to $22, whilst in the food and beverage and hospitality sectors, they range from $12 to $16 per hour.

Jod noted that the average hourly earnings for gig workers represent a significant increase of 23% to over 100% compared to the Local Qualifying Salary for part-time workers, which was raised from $9 to $10.50 per hour in Budget 2024.

Higher earnings have likely driven the 25% increase in first-time gig work applications. These first-time applicants fill one in 10 gig jobs, Jod reported.

Meanwhile, the platform also found that 20% of its members hold more than one job, averaging over 40 work hours per week. Top employers include Fairprice Group, National Healthcare Group, and McDonald’s.

As the gig economy expands, Jod emphasised the need to enhance gig workers' satisfaction and retention by fostering a supportive ecosystem with comprehensive rewards.

Employers should also focus on upskilling gig workers and addressing skills gaps by providing access to in-demand certifications, such as food handling.