Gig workers expressed high levels of satisfaction with HR tech company Incruit’s gig worker platform ‘NewWorker.’ (Image courtesy of Incruit)
SEOUL, Mar. 4 (Korea Bizwire) – In a recent survey conducted by HR tech company Incruit’s gig worker platform ‘NewWorker,’ gig workers expressed high levels of satisfaction with the service.
The survey, carried out from the February 8 to 12, involved 378 individuals who had taken on gig work through NewWorker in the past year.
The survey first looked into the age demographics of the gig workers, revealing that a significant 73% belonged to the 20s and 30s age groups. Specifically, 39.1% were in their 20s, followed by 33.8% in their 30s, 19.3% in their 40s, and 7.9% aged 50 and above.
When asked about their primary status, 41% identified as ‘employed,’ indicating that many use NewWorker to find secondary jobs alongside their primary employment, especially over weekends. Job seekers made up 28.6% of the respondents, students 13.2%, and homemakers 9.3%.
The most common way gig workers discovered ‘NewWorker’ was through ‘internet searches,’ accounting for 43.4% of responses. This was followed by ‘referrals from acquaintances’ at 23.8%, ‘social media’ at 12.2%, and ‘app market searches’ at 10.8%.
The primary motive for using NewWorker, as cited by 79.1% of the respondents, was to ‘earn additional income.’ This reflects a growing trend of individuals seeking supplementary incomes amidst rising living costs.
About 11.1% said they used the platform to ‘utilize free time,’ appreciating the flexibility of gig work over traditional part-time jobs. Another 7.1% were driven by the desire for ‘new experiences or change.’
When it comes to the types of gigs undertaken (respondents could select multiple options), 35.8% had experienced ‘event’ gigs, making it the most common.
The rise in the number of people taking on additional work is closely linked to the growth of digital platform-mediated jobs, such as delivery and courier services. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
Event gigs, offering roles like event coordinators or supervisors, are popular for their flexibility and the leadership roles they offer.
‘Data labeling’ was the second most common, with 24.2% of gig workers having taken on tasks involving collecting, processing, and reviewing various types of data. ‘Exam proctoring’ gigs were also notable, experienced by 18.2% of respondents.
The survey also asked gig workers about NewWorker’s strengths. The top benefit, identified by 33.3%, was the platform’s ‘verified and safe job opportunities.’
As South Korea’s first corporate-ordered gig worker platform, NewWorker’s one-stop system handles everything from recruitment to contract management, attendance, and settlement through the app, offering gig workers reliable and secure job opportunities.
Other advantages included ‘quick job acquisition’ (25.5%), ‘a wide variety of categories’ (19.1%), and ‘convenient features’ (12.6%).
Recent government data confirms the popularity of the gig economy, with the number of people with side jobs in South Korea reaching a record high of 575,000 last year, marking a 29% increase or nearly 130,000 more individuals within three years.
The rise in the number of people taking on additional work is closely linked to the growth of digital platform-mediated jobs, such as delivery and courier services. Compared to traditional employment, platform jobs often involve shorter weekly hours and lower earnings, necessitating additional sources of income.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
