Preparing Your Student to Thrive in the Gig Economy

It’s no surprise that the American workforce is changing. The pandemic response favored remote employment, and on-site jobs haven’t yet fully returned. Many workers fled the traditional workplace and never came back. “Where have all the workers gone?” is a frequent inquiry nowadays. Although it’s a complex question, one part of the equation is that workers have migrated to the gig economy.

What does this mean for homeschoolers? It’s not necessarily enough anymore to prepare your student to be a good employee. Chances are high that your kids will end up working in the gig economy—either by choice or necessity. Most young people don’t want to be stuck working in fast food or coffee shops for years. The good news is: Homeschoolers are uniquely positioned to prepare their teenagers to thrive in the new gig economy.

What’s the gig economy?

With traditional employment, workers get hired, work a regular schedule, earn a wage or salary, and may receive benefits. In contrast, gig employment begins when clients (employers) seek someone with specific skills or expertise to complete a well-defined and limited task. Workers choose the jobs—or gigs—they want and set their own schedules. In other words, workers are independent contractors performing temporary assignments.

The list of gigs is long and varied:

  • Babysitter
  • Bookkeeper
  • Dog walker
  • Graphic designer
  • Handyman
  • Home organizer/stager
  • House cleaner
  • Magician
  • Mover
  • Musician
  • Photographer
  • Programmer
  • Tutor
  • Uber or Lyft driver
  • Virtual assistant

Interestingly, many of these jobs are perfect for enterprising high school students, especially if they’re homeschooled. Homeschoolers have the flexibility in their schedules to start and run a personal business. And homeschooling families have the ability to tailor their students’ coursework to facilitate their business success.

Gig economy platforms

In recent years, more and more online platforms have sprung up that connect employers with prospective workers. As digital natives, young people are often quite comfortable navigating these sites and using them to land gigs. Some of the most popular platforms include:

  • Upwork
  • Fiverr
  • Remote.com
  • Weworkremotely.com
  • Freelancer.com
  • Qwick.com (food service)
  • Handy.com (household services)
  • Taskrabbit.com (household services)
The gig economy platform cycle: The more jobs you complete successfully, the more likely you are to be hired again.

Of course, platforms are optional. Young people can also build their businesses by word-of-mouth, networking, a personal website, social media marketing, and traditional advertising.

Why should homeschooled high schoolers prepare for work in the gig economy?

Certainly, this type of employment isn’t for everyone. Yet homeschoolers, who may have grown up marching to the beat of a different drummer, may find themselves drawn to gig work because it provides more personal choices and flexibility than traditional employment. Surveys of gig workers show that they like the ability to set their own schedule and prioritize their personal life. According to surveys, 70% of gig workers report having a good work-life balance, and 77% are very satisfied with their jobs. As parents, we want our children to have satisfying and fulfilling careers. Preparing them to thrive in the gig economy can help set them up for that type of success.

You can give your student a head start

Almost 90% of freelancers wish their education had prepared them better for gig work. As a homeschooler, you can create a high school experience that includes the hard and soft skills needed in the gig economy. Hard skills include technical skills related to the specific field your son or daughter is interested in. For example, your student can learn programming, bookkeeping, photography, graphic design, web development, or media production while still in high school.

But technical skills aren’t enough. In one survey, 78% of respondents agreed that “soft skills” are as important as hard skills for success in gig work. Soft skills include communication, problem-solving ability, critical thinking, teamwork, leadership, and even Zoom etiquette.

The academy advantage

Homeschooling through high school presents significant challenges. Parents want to make sure their students graduate with academic credentials that compare to public school graduates, so core academic work is essential. Since the level in high school classes is advanced, many parents outsource some or all of this teaching to homeschool academies.

Similarly, if you want to prepare your student for the gig economy, you don’t need to go it alone. Academies are great for helping your students acquire soft skills. The “flipped classroom” approach used by academies like Mid-Metro Academy in St. Paul allows students to practice communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving with peers. Drama, music, and even swing dancing classes help students develop empathy and interpersonal skills.

Some homeschool academies help students develop technical skills as well. Mid-Metro Academy offers many business and technology classes that can help students start a side hustle while in high school. Students who are college-bound can support themselves during college with their gig career, and some students may choose to become entrepreneurs without gaining a traditional college degree. Mid-Metro Academy allows you to design the ideal high school experience for your student that can prepare him or her to thrive as an adult not just as an employee but perhaps as a private contractor enjoying the benefits of his or her own career in the gig economy.

To learn more about career-oriented classes at Mid-Metro Academy, click HERE.

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