These days, the gig economy is one of Singapore’s biggest industries. Entrepreneurs, seniors and even students are taking to working on a gig basis, which provides more flexibility compared to a corporate job.
The “gig economy” refers to the growing number of people who work flexibly, either for supplementary income or as their primary source of income, on an a-la-carte basis. In other words, you can be a gig worker for multiple employers at the same time, and there are no contractual stipulations about working hours (beyond what you agree on with your clients). This allows you to have more flexible working hours.
The Ministry of Manpower says that the number of freelancers in Singapore—about 10 percent of the total workforce—has increased steadily over the past few years.
For a long time, the practice of working short-term or freelance was not very common, but the popularity of the gig economy has seen a worldwide surge due to two factors: (1) advances in technology and (2) the global spread of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.
With smartphones and tablets, customers can access restaurants, taxis and movies with a few taps of their touch screen, thus making it easier than ever to organize meet-ups and fulfill orders with stunning precision. Thanks to the rise of technology, it has never been easier for organizations to respond instantly to individual customer needs.
When the government declared a state of emergency and forcibly shut down several businesses, tens of thousands of jobs were lost in the ensuing chaos. This wave of job losses caused industries—including tourism, aviation, restaurants and more—to slow to a crawl. Consequently, many people could no longer afford to buy certain luxuries or even food for their families. In response to this crisis, service providers opened the doors to recently displaced workers seeking a way to continue earning an income.
Where can I find gig economy jobs and how much can I earn from it? We’ve listed a few side hustles that can help you earn extra income: online translating, tutoring, selling online, delivery services, freelance, and babysitting.
Delivery Services
With the pandemic, people have stayed more at home to comply with government advisories and many have turned to delivery services for daily necessities. In response, a growing number of people seeking work have signed up as riders to the on-demand delivery services, which include Deliveroo, Foodpanda and GrabFood.
Singaporeans have come to rely on food delivery services in recent years. The high demand for these services has made it a popular side hustle for many people in the country. GrabFood or Deliveroo riders can earn as much as S$3,000 per month.
Online Translation Services
Online translation services are one of the most lucrative ways to make money online, though it does require some knowledge of another language, in addition to a high-speed Internet connection.
The key is to find out which online translation services have the best reputation and pay the most for your work. Some companies pay as little as a few cents for each word that is translated, while companies such as Gengo and Translated will pay up to $0.08 per word, depending on your skill level and the difficulty of the work at hand.
A common rate for a translation service is US$0.03 per word if you’re at standard level, and US$0.08 per word if you’re at the pro level. An average assignment is about 350 words, which equates to about US$10.50 (S$14.27).
Freelance
The coronavirus pandemic has affected every facet of life, including jobs. A large number of people have lost their jobs and many are relying on government assistance to get by. And while the pandemic has certainly been a difficult time for most, it has also presented an opportunity for people to make money as freelancers.
There are several different freelance platforms available that allow people with various skill sets to connect with people who need them. Some of these platforms include Upwork, FlexJobs and Fiverr.
Freelancing is ideal because it lets you pick your own hours and projects. You can even work from home. And if you have experience in a particular area, there’s extra money you can earn as a freelancer.
Online Selling
Running an online store on e-commerce platforms like Lazada, Shopee and Qoo10 shares many similarities with working in other gig economy jobs.
You’re independent and take full responsibility for your storefront and customer service. You set your own hours, choose what products to sell, and decide how you’re going to get them into customers’ hands.
There are no time commitments or monthly fees – and you can run your store alongside your day job or studies. And if you currently have a full-time job, running an online store is a great way to test out a new product or business idea that could potentially turn into something bigger down the line.
Babysitting
You can even make a chunk of income by doing things you’re already doing, like babysitting if you’re good with children.
Babysitters in Singapore may earn from S$13 to S$15 per hour. These aren’t the most spectacular wages, but it’s a reasonably straightforward job. If you create strong relationship and trust with the parents, they are likely to continue with you, providing continuous revenues.
Most babysitting jobs are part-time positions, which makes it ideal for anyone interested in making extra cash working for a few hours on weekdays and weekends. Many full-time workers also do part-time babysitting as it provides them with a great opportunity to earn on their off days.
Tutoring
Considering the fact that tuition has become a $1.4 billion market in Singapore, you might wish to explore teaching tuition as an extra income source. If teaching children is one of your strengths, then this is the perfect job for you. There are actually a lot of parents who can’t provide their children with quality education at home due to lack of time or knowledge. In this case, they will most likely look for someone who can teach their children while they are busy at work. As such, there is a huge opportunity in this field that you will earn a substantial income when the student achieves a positive outcome.
Nowadays, a lot of people have already discovered the advantages of earning extra money through online jobs or simply by working part-time. This is mainly because it offers more flexibility in terms of time and location. It allows them to earn money on the side without compromising their daily activities and routines. Additionally, this type of income is often considered as a secondary source of income which can be useful for paying bills or expenses during an emergency.
If you are currently thinking about getting an online job or working part-time, there are actually a lot of options available for you. Depending on your skills and capabilities, you can choose among several jobs that can help you generate extra income.