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6 Strategies for Attracting and Retaining the Best Gig-Economy Talent

Here are 6 strategies to find and keep the best people in the gig-economy - compiled nicely for you.
The gig economy is growing rapidly and is becoming an increasingly attractive option for talented professionals, but businesses are struggling to access and keep talented professionals on a project-by-project basis. This new labor segment offers a huge resource for businesses, but learning the new rules of on-demand labor requires a mindset shift from traditional staff roles.
Here are 6 strategies to find and keep the best gig economy talent:

1. Offer Competitive Rates

Offering competitive rates for gig work is the best way to attract top talent. Doing research on the current rates other businesses are offering for similar work, and matching or beating those rates can give your business an edge. Additionally, offering bonuses or commissions for completed projects can be a great way to incentivize talented professionals to take on a gig with your business.

Considering the explosive growth of gig-economy jobs, in addition to a growing trend of overemployment, we are currently in a worker's market. It is up to them whether to stay or to go, and the easiest way to attract and keep the best talent is to offer higher pay. Traditionally, increasing labor costs is a huge burden to a company's bottom line, but the rules have changed - incentivizing the best workers to stay will be worth their weight in gold when business gets busy, or you are looking to expand your business. 

2. Leverage Technology

New technologies and services can help employers streamline the recruitment process, making it easier to find the right candidates. Even using just applicant tracking systems and automated interviews will instantly narrow the applicant pool and reduce the human cost to interviewing and evaluating new talent. Recruiting automation also can improve the candidate's experience. Additionally, employers should consider utilizing onboarding and training software to help new hires quickly become acclimated to the job by providing them with the resources they need to be successful.

3. Build a Good Relationship

Establishing a good relationship with your workforce is the most important task for managers. Remember, this is a worker's market - people are more willing to leave a job than ever before, and there are more competitors who are more than happy to hire them. It's your responsibility to create a good working environment, and build trust with each of your workers. After all, people work with people they like.

Taking the time and effort to get to know the people you work with is essential to building trust, and will encourage workers to stay. Sending a thank you note after a project is completed, or providing feedback on their performance can help to create a positive working relationship. Offering raises or opportunities for more responsibility are great ways to build up a relationship as well.

4. Offer More Opportunities

Both benefits and career advancement are cited as the biggest problems for on-demand workers. Overwhelmingly, companies avoid both of those aspects of their business despite how important they are for the on-demand workforce. Providing additional training in specific areas or offering the opportunity to work on more complex projects can be a great way to draw in skilled professionals. Also, offering the chance to work on larger projects or take on more responsibility can be a great way to incentivize the best gig economy talent to work with your business.

The bottom line is that other companies don't offer benefits or any kind of career advancement or training. Implementing one or both of these tactics WILL attract better talent, and will incentivize workers to stay. It's the easiest way to stand out from the competition.

5. Create a Positive Working Environment

Creating a positive working environment is a reliable way to attract and retain the best on-demand talent. Making sure to provide a flexible workspace, offer reasonable deadlines, and communicate crystal clear expectations from the beginning can go a long way in creating a positive environment, and encouraging your workforce to stay with your company. People want to stay where they're comfortable and feel secure - that they know how they're doing, know what's expected, and trust that their job is not constantly on the chopping block.

6. Promote Your Business

Taking advantage of social media, networking events, and other platforms to showcase your business and the opportunities it offers can help to draw in the best on-demand talent. Providing testimonials from current and past gig workers can be a great way to show potential gig-workers the quality of work that is being done. Offering incentives for referrals can also be a great way to promote your business and draw in skilled individuals.

Even by enacting a few of these strategies, your business can be more successful in attracting and retaining quality talent. And besides, who doesn't love filming fun videos about your workplace? We spend so much time there, might as well show off the best parts of it. For example, check out Chaplin's Restaurant's Instagram page for inspiration on what high-quality self-promotion looks like on social media. 

By implementing these strategies, employers can create a successful program for recruiting and retaining the best talent. By focusing on personal development, relationship, and pay, employers can create an attractive workplace that helps them stand out from the competition, and maintain a strong pool of talent. In this current labor market, employers need to take a more proactive approach to recruitment and retention, and these strategies can help them create a successful program for doing just that.

Roosted can add value to your recruiting and worker management efforts. Contact a Client Success Engineer for more advice on how we can support your business.