5 Ways the Gig Economy Can Work for Working Mothers

5 Ways the Gig Economy Can Work for Working Mothers For years, mothers have faced a tough choice to work or not to work? However, this seemingly simple question fails to convey thesacrifices women are asked to make.Many working women have long yearned for a hybrid choice, some option that could exist if only the world of work were structured differently. With the rise of the gig economy, working women may have finally found that choice.According to a 2016 study,the percent of women engaged in alternative work arrangements, which includes gig economy jobs, has mora than doubled since 2005 and now outpaces the percentage of men engaged in such work. Gig jobs present women with the opportunity to meld valuable careers and meaningful parenthood without compromising either.The overwhelming popularity of gig work among women raisesthe question What about the gig economy works for so many working mothers?Here are a few possible answers1. You Can Set Your Own HoursAn overwhelming 96 percent of female gig workers cite flexible hours as one of the top three benefits of working in the gig economy. Gig workers have the flexibility to work any number of hours they choose, usually at whatever time of day best suits their schedule.This flexible scheduling doesnt have to mean earning less money. Many gig workers are able to put in full-time work, with 47 percent of them reporting they work more than 40 hours a week. For working mothers who want to pursue careers without sacrificing time with their children, the flexibility to work the hours they want to work makes gig work an ideal option.2. You Can Work From HomeFor some, motherhood means being on call at all times. In normal offices, where supervisors and coworkers note how often youre late and when you are away, working mothers are pressured to sacrifice either job security or availability to their children.However, gig economy jobs in high demandlike web development, software engineering, a nd graphic design can be performed from anywhere with an internet connection. They also pay generously, with median hourly wages running from $30 to almost $50 an hour.3. YouCan Build Job ExperienceMore than 70 percent of female gig workers are also the primary caregivers in their homes, proving that the gig economy provides women the flexibility they need to be attentive mothers and still gain valuable work experience. Rather than takingan extended hiatus or sacrificing time with their newborns, new mothers have the option of working as much as they want and when they want, making it easier to re-enter the traditional workforce if and when they choose.4. You Can Close the Mother-Father Wage GapBy some estimates, women wont have equal pay with men until 2152. Mothers are disproportionately affected by this gender wage gap, suffering a 3 percent mommy penaltyon income compared to women without children. Working fathers, on the other hand, make 15 percent more than men without childre n. The gig economy is an opportunity for working women to set their own wages, bypass workplace biases, and avoid the mother-father pay gap.5. You Can Craft Your Ideal JobIn the gig economy, the world is your oyster. A gig worker can craft their ideal position, choosing what they do, whom they work for, and the terms on which they work. In fact, 53 percent of people who are employed as gig workers chose it for the greater control it affords over their career development.Having a child changes a womans life, often in ways she never could have expected. With so much of motherhood outside of a womans control, gig work provides a rare opportunity for mothers to exercise control in crafting the jobs theydesire.The gig economy presents an exciting opportunity for women to build lives that fully embrace both work and family without sacrificing either.Rebecca Henderson is the CEO of Randstad Sourceright, one of the worlds largest talent solution providers.