Are Contractors the Future of the Workplace?

More employees than ever are dreaming of starting their own business to gain the flexibility, autonomy and the freedom they desire. This leaves businesses with little choice but to react.

The contractor employment markets expansion has been rapid. But it makes sense for businesses to rely on contracted professionals who provide a flexible, cost-effective method of filling a widening talent deficit while helping to reduce the risks involved with business growth.

And for professionals, turning to contracting grants them schedule and career freedoms that in-house roles simply haven’t offered in the past. By leveraging their skills and experience, professionals are able to choose when, where and how they work. They choose who they work for and the length of the projects.

So, here are the signs that point to a future that benefits both businesses and individuals through contracting?

The Best Talent Is Everywhere

Every business wants hire the best people. The companies that embrace contracting have a significant advantage over those that haven’t figured it out. For each candidate that is available to work in your city, there are hundreds more around the world that can do it better.

Hiring top talent is already hard enough as it is, so why limit the single most important ingredient for the success of your business?

It’s inevitable that more and more skilled workers will adapt to a remote working lifestyle, and it’s the companies that can accommodate the lifestyles of these talents that will become the market leaders in the future.

Upskilling and filling knowledge Gaps

Workplace skill sets are changing to keep pace with digital transformation, with analytical, communication and problem-solving skills rising to the top of the “must-have” list. This presents a challenge for in-house employees and calls for upskilling across every industry. 

Blending contractors and in-house professionals encourages specialist skill transference which benefits both the business’ long-term plans and the career development goals of in-house professionals. 

It’s Never Been Easier

The good news is that it’s now easier than ever to coordinate the work of individuals from around the world. As long as we have access to a laptop and the internet, there are hundreds of tools that have been created to make the process seamless.

Now, I’m not suggesting that it’s a walk in the park. There are setbacks to working remotely. Some things are simply easier with in-person interactions, such as training, instant feedback, and relationship building, but all of these things can be overcome to the satisfaction of both the business and the contractor.

Anyone looking to start their contractor journey can contact us, from setting-up to keeping you compliant, Icon Accounting will be there every step of the way.

The Future is Digital

Digital transformation has been on the agenda of organisations for years and there’s now a new urgency to plan for and implement changes across industries.

Why wait until you are behind to adapt when you can be a leader and remain up to date with this transformation and what it means for the workforce.

The future of work is already here. It’s up to you to embrace and take advantage of it.