LinkedIn recently published an article discussing the trend of companies in the tech world shifting toward hiring contractors instead of full-time employees. As Web Professionals Global is made up of tech professionals who work in a variety of roles and capacities, we thought it important to highlight this trend. Why is this happening?
First, let’s look at some of the pros and cons of being a contractor as opposed to a full-time employee.
What are the pros?
- Freedom to choose clients and customers
- Ability to work from wherever
- Ability to set own hours
- Flexibility to drop difficult clients
What are some of the cons?
- Less job security
- Fewer (or no) benefits like 401(k), healthcare options, etc.
- Fewer colleagues can mean less camaraderie and more isolation
- Limited career development opportunities
Put simply, more companies are turning to contractors because they can be hired at a lower cost than full-time employees. For example, a full time employee must be paid a salary and benefits. Those benefits can amount to 50% or more additional expenses beyond base salary. In this tough economic environment, tech companies have engaged in mass layoffs. However, work still needs to be done. Companies use contractors to continue operations without the added cost of retirement benefits, healthcare benefits, and more. Additionally, many contractors work remotely, which saves companies on overhead costs like office space and utilities.
Companies also have more flexibility when they hire contractors. A contractor-heavy workforce allows companies to rapidly scale up and down as business needs and goals shift throughout the year. The tech world is constantly changing, and companies in Silicon Valley and beyond are likely to continue relying heavily on contract employees. If you work in tech, or would like to work in tech, consider if contract opportunities might be right for you. As we discussed, there are upsides and downsides to both contact work and full-time employment. Our work at Web Professionals Global prepares secondary students and adult learners to enter careers in web design, animation, mobile app development and more.
Mark DuBois, our Executive Director, talked about the role of contractors in tech: “In my three decades of experience in the world of web, I have been part of many teams that relied on contractors to get projects done. There will always be a need for contractors, and independent contracting can be a wonderful way for web professionals to work directly with clients on projects they choose. We here at Web Professionals Global are proud to support tech contractors around the country and around the globe.”
Learn More
Are you interested in becoming an independent contractor or seeking to enter the tech world? Contact us today to find out how Web Professionals Global can help you reach your career goals. Whether you are a full time employee or a contractor, don’t forget the importance of current certifications to validate your value to an organization. In addition to our many certifications in web technologies (such as web designer, web developer, mobile app developer, and web animation), we also offer remote working certifications.
