Jobs On Demand (Jod) released its inaugural whitepaper, titled “Empowering Flexibility: A Deep Dive into Singapore’s Gig Work Landscape with Jod”.
The whitepaper reveals a growing trend towards hybrid operating models, and increased compensation in traditional non-gig sectors to incentivise, attract and retain talent. Remarkably, the healthcare and hospitality sectors are leading this change with the highest demand and hourly rates of up to S$22 per hour.
Based on nine years of operational data and a comprehensive survey of 1,000 gig workers in Singapore, the whitepaper delves into hiring and industry insights, including the increasing demand for workers and their salary expectations, in sectors such as retail, food and beverage, logistics, healthcare, events and hospitality.
Jod’s data highlights a significant uptake of gig work in Singapore, with a 50 per cent month-on-month increase in job applications between April 2023 to December 2023, driven by workers prioritising flexibility and autonomy in their work arrangements.
This trend extends beyond traditional gig sectors to include healthcare and hospitality, with the number of regular primary own-account workers in Singapore rising since 2019 and reaching an all-time high of 202,700 in 2022.
“Through this whitepaper, we aim to highlight emerging trends and key drivers in the gig work ecosystem, fostering a stronger and more resilient gig economy. It provides a comprehensive overview of sectoral performance and demand location insights, offering stakeholders a clear understanding of the opportunities and challenges within the gig economy,” commented Sebastian San, Singapore Country Manager of Jod.
Our goal is to empower gig workers, equip policymakers with actionable data, and help businesses harness the potential of gig work to drive innovation and competitiveness. We remain committed to fostering a vibrant and inclusive gig work ecosystem in Singapore and beyond Southeast Asia.”
Increase in average earnings across all sectors, with highest in healthcare, hospitality and food and beverage sectors
The whitepaper spotlights average hourly earnings for gig workers across various sectors, including retail, food and beverage, healthcare, events and hospitality, ranging between S$14 to S$20. The healthcare sector stands out, with hourly rates ranging from S$13 to S$22, followed by food and beverage and hospitality sectors ranging from S$12 to S$16 per hour.
This represents a substantial increase in hourly rates, between 23 per cent to over 100 per cent, compared to the Local Qualifying Salary for locals working part-time, which was raised from S$9 to S$10.50 per hour in Budget 2024.
Jod registered a 25 per cent increase first-timer applications, with diversification of income streams becoming a norm
Contrary to popular belief and traditional employment norms, the whitepaper reveals that the gig economy is shifting towards hybrid models, where workers combine multiple gig roles or supplement traditional employment with gig work to maximise their working potential. Notably, 20 per cent of Jod members hold more than one job, with these individuals averaging more than 40 hours of work per week.
Top employers on Jod include Fairprice Group, National Healthcare Group, and McDonald’s. Additionally, one in ten jobs were filled by first-time Jod members, reflecting the growing and diverse demand for gig work.
To address hiring concerns for both workers and employers, Jod has identified the following strategies:
- Enhancing Gig Workers’ Job Satisfaction and Retention – Fostering a supportive ecosystem through a comprehensive rewards programme to enhance the overall work experience and contribute to gig workers’ financial well-being and job satisfaction, in turn increasing retention rates.
- Upskilling and Certification – Commitment to upskilling gig workers and addressing the skills gap in the current employment landscape by facilitating access to in-demand certifications, such as food handling, to enhance gig workers’ employability and earning potential
- Streamlining Employer Operations – Leveraging innovative technologies and AI to enhance efficacy and trust within platforms streamlines the hiring process and improves communication between hiring managers and gig workers, leading to a more efficient and satisfying job engagement experience.
