“The gig economy as an activator for employability skills in unemployed youth”
The GIG-UP project aims at offering a new program to tackle NEET’s barriers to employment, and support them in the smooth transition to the labour market, using the gig economy as a activator for employability skills.
The number of people taking part in gig economy work has doubled in the last three years, with young people the most likely to be working this way, according to new research. Data show in fact that one in three of those on zero-hour contracts and in the gig economy are young people. Today, nearly 40% of employed people in the European Union are in atypical employment (not working under a full-time, open-ended contract) or self-employed.
During the COVID19 pandemic, but even before it, the worldwide turnover generated by the Gig Economy was estimated to exceed $ 82.4 billion (data 2017), with an annual growth of 67% on an annual basis testifying that the trend is strongly expanding.
During the COVID19 pandemic, but even before it, the worldwide turnover generated by the Gig Economy was estimated to exceed $ 82.4 billion (data 2017), with an annual growth of 67% on an annual basis testifying that the trend is strongly expanding.
The report ‘Work in the European Gig Economy, Research results from the UK, Sweden, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Italy’ reviewed the existing evidence on the characteristics and the extent of ‘crowd work’, by using a broad definition, a high proportion of the population (ranging from 9% in Germany to a high of 22% in Italy) and based on the ongoing EU level debate, “it seems likely that platform workers will continue to be regarded as self-employed or independent contractors for the foreseeable future (Eurofound, Dieuaide and Azaïs, 2020).
This changing working environment driven by technological advancement and global connectivity, brought about by the so-called 4th industrial revolution and pushed by the gig economy require future work force to ‘invent new ways for earn money’ and satisfy both society and companies needs in ways that cannot fully predict at the moment. Many large corporations in EU are more and recurring to external independent contractors and outsourcing non-core services to lower costs and risks.
In addition, new economy models (as the gig economy, the share economy) are fully embracing this self-employment workstyle, that offers temporary position to independent contractors and contributing in creating micro-entrepreneurs.
Reducing youth NEET rates is one of the targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development under Goal 8 on “Promoting sustained, inclusive and sustainable growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all” (target 8.6 foresees a substantial reduction of youth NEET rates by 2020) and is also directly linked to SDG 4 on education.
The GIG UP program can be used in different environment to foster youth social and employability skills and empower them to be more active citizens and be ready to be integrated into the labour market.
By using the newly prepared interactive materials – better suited for younger generations – participants are fostered to acquiring skills requested by the 21st century workplace while also:
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- gaining better employability and life skills – using self-employment and the gig economy as an activator of interest
- increase their possibility to be prepared for a meaningful work experience
- receive guidance on what skills can help them make a positive change in their life
- understand better their rights as employees and citizens, and how to behave and perform better in a work situation.
THE GIG UP PROGRAM
A Digital Library of ready to use materials (micro-lessons, text, games, reading materials, exercises, presentations, infographics…) that educators can use with their target group. The partners covered more then 10 topics regarding competences that any gig worker/self-employed person will need to manage their work efficiently (time management, entrepreneurial mind-set, cognitive skills, problem solving skills, digital skills…) while working independently maybe joggling different contracts and navigating uncertainty (build relationships with clients, finance literacy, accountancy, social media marketing, labour market regulations EU level included).
The materials in the library can be used together, to create a unique program, or can be used in associations with other activities organized by NGOs, VET schools, HEIs, employment services.
The platform offers a certification with a clear and detailed report on the competence gained and tested during the program. The certificate can be attached at the CV and can be used to show case participant’s skills to potential contractors and employers.
The project partners created as well a Focus Group Report Skill Grid based on collecting data and reports regarding gig economy from experts in five European countries including Germany, Italy, Spain, Cyprus, and Greece. Each country used the same questionnaire for collecting data from experts. Some countries employed online interviews like Germany and others applied face-to face interviews.
The Handbook is used facilitate the program delivery and most importantly, to increase educators understating of actual employability skills and equip them to replicate program, update it and make it available for other participants in the future.
It offers guidance to any educator (youth workers, educators, HR managers, mentors, coaches, and career advisers in VET and HEI organizations or employment services …) in charge of fostering NEETs / youth employability skills.
The handbook offers tips and suggestions on how to define the blend among online, offline/face-to-face activities to increase participants learning possibilities, and, most of all, allowing learners to control their own timing and schedule. The manual is a practical tool to foster professionals’ ability to offer more engaging support, learning how to integrating activities with online/virtual learning to help them in delivering more adaptive learning solutions.