Uber, Swiggy, Zomato among e-business firms to offer million jobs through festivals, but skills gap remains

The gig economy is set to experience another boom in the upcoming holiday season, with job opportunities likely to surge to new highs. A TeamLease Edtech report released on September 24 suggests that employers are planning to hire 1 million gig workers and 250,000 contract workers across sectors, with e-commerce leading the way.

“Companies like Uber, Ola, Swiggy and Zomato are offering significant opportunities, reflecting changes in the labor market accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has forced both employees and businesses to seek flexible work arrangements,” the report, titled “Skills for the Gig Economy,” reads.

However, a survey of over 800 gig economy employers conducted by Teamlease edtech revealed a persistent skills gap among gig economy workers, with over one in four (42.86%) employers citing a lack of industry knowledge as a top shortfall, pointing to the need for specialist skills in specific sectors.

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“While gig workers are often technically savvy, a lack of domain expertise can hinder their efficiency and effectiveness. Additionally, 28.57% of employers cited soft skills, including communication, teamwork, and problem-solving, as another critical gap. These skills are essential for gig workers, who often manage multiple clients and projects simultaneously,” the report reads.

How can temporary workers overcome the skills gap?

Jaideep Kewalramani, Head of Employability Business and COO, TeamLease Edtech, added, “In the field, we often see that while gig workers are tech-savvy, they struggle to manage customer interactions and adapt to the dynamic needs of multiple projects. As the holiday season approaches, their ability to improve their communication and problem-solving skills will play a key role. Success in the gig economy is a combination of factors, including technical proficiency, communication skills, time management, and adaptability.”

To fill these gaps, the report identifies the best ways to improve the skills of temporary workers. According to the data, the most effective are on-the-job training (76.19%) and online courses (73.81%).

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“These options provide contingent workers with hands-on experience and the flexibility to learn on the job. By improving both industry knowledge and soft skills, contingent workers can significantly increase their employability and efficiency in delivering high-quality results,” the report notes.

Shantanu Rooj, Founder and CEO of TeamLease EdTech, believes that by developing their skills, contingent workers will not only fill current gaps but also prepare for the future of work, where adaptability will be key to success.

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