How to Earn Money With a More Meaningful Job in the Gig Economy

You can still make a difference.

This post is presented in partnership with Mobility.

The employment landscape has changed. That’s just a fact.

Some may yearn for the days of old, when you could walk out of university or TAFE and straight into the job you’d keep for the next thirty years. But that’s just no longer a likely scenario, with today’s young people expected to hold more than a dozen jobs over five careers in their lifetime. And of those dozen-plus jobs, you might wind up doing a few of them at once.

Though there are plenty of forces that have changed the way (and the hours) we work, technology has played a big part, which has also inspired the fear in many that automated robots will eventually take over all those remaining human jobs.

But with technology comes opportunity. A recent study found that 7.1 per cent of Australians are currently working (or offering to work) through a digital platform, or have done so with the last 12 months. These platforms, like—Uber and AirTasker—allow people to set their own hours, location and rate of pay. The industry that this has built is often referred to as the 'Gig Economy'.

Among all Australians, students are 1.3 times more likely to be doing platform work. And that number is growing. Of those working on digital platforms, almost half (46.5%) began in the last year alone.

Of course, some young people may have different professional aspirations than those being offered on Uber and AirTasker. Or, they may be looking for a job in the gig economy that’s a little more fulfilling.

That’s where a platform like Mobility comes in.

This app allows people to register for work in assisting the aged and people with a disability. Opportunities range from offering companionship to transporting them to appointments, and also includes mowing lawns, cleaning, admin and even babysitting. Mobility also provides access to up to $250 of free training certification when you sign up.

Not only will you feel great helping your fellow Aussies but you’ll find these kinds of jobs usually pay better than your average gig economy jobs too.

Plus, these jobs aren’t likely to be taken over by technology any time soon. In fact, according to the Future of Work for Australian Graduates report, the overwhelming majority of jobs added in the last five years have been in the services industry, including 250,000 jobs added in the broad healthcare and social assistance sector alone. That makes up almost one-quarter of all new employment created in Australia, making this sector our largest employer.

So, for anyone who does want career stability in their future, getting a break in healthcare and social assistance via Mobility could be your first step in the right direction.

Good luck out there!

Earn, Train and Shine with Mobility: a revolution in home care. With Mobility you can get ahead in your career, help those in need and choose the hours that work for you. Earn cash for the skills you already and receive $250 worth of free certified training. Launching soon. Pre-register now!

Header Image: FatCamera/E+ via Getty Images