Supported gig work

The picture shows three people, a gig worker, an employer's representative and a job coach

In the project, Metropolia University of Applied Sciences and Etelä-Suomen Klubitalot ESKOT ry (Organization for Clubhouses in Southern Finland) co-created a model for supported short term jobs together with the target groups and the stakeholders (companies and short term job providers, educational institutions, cities, public employment and enterprise services and other stakeholders). The Model of Supported Short Term Jobs is a complementary mode of action between the existing forms of supported employment and open labor markets for people outside the labor market, long-term unemployed and other people in a weaker position on the labor market. Supported short term jobs offer an opportunity to try out one’s working life skills and to get work experience on the open labor market with a wage in accordance with a collective agreement. For the job providers, the model is an administratively light way to offer work to target groups and to carry social responsibility. For an individual, his close ones and society, it is important to get everyone's input in use, even if the possible number of working hours is small. Coordinating and matching successful gigs and gig workes was done on a digital platform, Work Pilots. (https://www.workpilots.com/) The Model of Supported Short Term Jobs and instructions has published in Finnish on website: https://tuettukeikkatyo.metropolia.fi/

Problem addressed

In Finland has been recognized that working life is in transition. The work and working career has become more and more fragmented and the work is done in an increasingly diverse way. Job transition increases the flexibility of the labor market and the opportunity to have a unique career. The changes in working life and work habits and the increasing labor shortage have contributed to the fact that potential of people outside the labor market, long-term unemployed and other people in a weaker position has been recognized on the labor market better than before.

It has been determined that there are estimated to be 40,000 people in Finland among the unemployed who are able to work part-time, who would like to work, as long as a suitable job could be found. It has been found that the individual situations and skills of the long-term unemployed remain unrecognized in current employment services. The transformation of work forces society to give up from black-and-white thinking, according to which work ability either exists or it does not exist at all.

Everyone's contribution is important, and we want to give it a chance. Supported gig work is one way for people in a weaker labor market position to find employment.

Innovative solution

In the project, a supported gig work model was developed with target and stakeholder groups to promote the employment paths of those outside the labor market, the long-term unemployed and those in a weaker labor market position, between the current supported forms of employment and the open labor market. Job coaches are people who know both the situation of gig workers and are able to help the employer find suitable people for gig jobs.

Online publication collected extensive material why supported gig work should be a form of supported employment, how it promotes participation in society, what benefits it has and what effects it has on the gig worker, the employers, the work community, job training and society. The publication is aimed at job coaches, whose task is to connect and help both the gig works and the employers. The publication also contains plenty of instructions, examples and videos. "Supported gig work - a step into working life" online publication: https://tuettukeikkatyo.metropolia.fi/

Key results and benefits

When supported gig work is carefully organized, it benefits the gig workers, employers, the work community, the job coach and society.

During the project gig workers´ ability to work, working life skills and their experiences of participation were strengthened in workshops, trainings and seminars held during the project. In the interviews, the gig workers said that in addition to the salary, the supported gigs made it possible to take skills and resources into account when working, increased hope, activated and brought rhythm to everyday life, motivated to act, helped forward on the employment path, enabled the experience of interaction, success and appreciation, maintained the ability to work and was a step towards an open labor market. Many of them said that they want to be productive citizens of society.

Potential for mainstreaming

During the project (in the years 2019-2021), several organizations participated in the activity, e.g. seminars and adopted the practices of the supported gig work model and applied it to their own activities. Etelä-Suomen Klubitalot ESKOT ry (Organization for Clubhouses in Southern Finland) together with three other organizations founded a social enterprise whose mission is to provide gigs for people with mental health problems The Supported gig work has been evaluated as one of the best employment practices in Finland.

The Supported Gig Work model has developed with 150 participants who have or had have mental health problems and has been difficulties with employment. The model is also scalable with other people in a weaker labor market position. In Finland, there are many job coaches from different organizations who already use this model. Main idea is quite simple. You need three participants: gig worker, employer and work coach. Successful supported gig work requires careful preparation and the support of a job coach for the employer and the work community as well.

People who have complicated difficulties with employment must have the opportunities to work and feel competent and work even if they are not yet capable of full-time work. The supported gig work gives a safe opportunities to work, get paid and be part of society. People who have done supported gigs have said that their self-esteem, confidence, and courage have increased. At best, supported gigs, has been step towards an independent working life.

Case study details

Lead organisation

Metropolia University of Applied Sciences

Countries

Finland

Themes

Modernising labour market institutions and services

Target groups

Long-term or repeatedly unemployed persons

Level of action

National

Source of funding

Public - EU

Budget

509 176 €

Programming period

2014-2020

Project start

2019

Project end

2001

Type of initiative

Integrating disadvantaged groups

Participants

People outside the labor market, long-term unemployed and other people in a weaker position on the labor market. Mostly people with mental health problems.

Internet and social