This discussion paper delves into the factors driving the increasing engagement of young Australians in the gig economy. It draws on data collected for the 2022 Australian Youth Barometer to examine the connections between gig work and other aspects of young people’s lives, such as education, housing and finances. It reveals a dark optimism among young Australians as they navigate through employment uncertainties and the structural challenges of today's workforce.

Download the report: Young people navigating working life in and beyond the gig economy

The concept of Homo promptus

In this paper, Professor Lucas Walsh and Blake Cutler introduce the concept of Homo promptus, depicting how young Australians adapt to the changing job landscape. This adaptation presents young people with four key pressures that they need to embrace, including:

• Adopting an entrepreneurial and strategic mindset
• Adaptive planning while living in the short-term.
• Be location-independent when seeking job opportunities
• Living in the inevitable ‘waithood’ that involves negotiating personal identity and financial independence.

What Needs To Change?

As the gig economy expands, it intertwines with broader trends that encompasses education, finance, civic engagement and youth perspectives about the future. The paper highlights the need for a more comprehensive, integrated policies that aim to address youth employment challenges in a holistic manner rather than through isolated measures. While the gig economy offers flexibility, it prompts questions about its ultimate benefits and costs, as youth employ coping mechanisms to navigate precarity in the contemporary workforce.