6 Powerful Gig Economy Trends Reshaping Event Staffing Now

You might disagree that the gig economy is driving major shifts in the labor market, but the stats don’t lie. In 2025, over 42 million people in the U.S. are projected to be involved in gig work. Worldwide, it’s reached 1.1 billion. 

In event staffing, the gig economy isn’t a new concept. Freelancers and temp workers have long been part of the mix. But as the gig economy grows, they’ve become critical to handling last-minute changes, high-volume shifts, and fast-paced timelines. More planners are turning to flexible, on-demand talent to fill roles quickly and keep standards high.

In this article, we explore why the gig economy matters and explain six major gig economy trends influencing event staffing.

Why the Gig Economy Matters in Event Staffing

The gig economy has been a hot topic since the pandemic, but what does it actually mean? At its core, it’s a labor market made up of gig workers: independent professionals who take on short-term, flexible jobs instead of full-time roles. It includes freelancers, contract workers, part-time personnel, temporary staff, and online platform workers.

Over the years, events have been staffed by various gig workers who are often on call. However, with its growing prominence, gig economy event staffing has become even more essential.

Gig economy event staffing gives planners faster access to skilled staff without the long hiring process or long-term commitments. The event staff gig economy also makes it easier to scale teams up or down based on what each event demands. And with freelance staffing for events, you get specialized talent that adds flexibility, keeps things running smoothly, and helps you stay on budget.

6 Powerful Gig Economy Trends Reshaping Event Staffing

Gig economy trends are making a real impact on event staffing. Below, we break down 6 major gig economy trends that are reshaping event staffing.

1. Steady Rise in Gig Workers 

In case you missed it, full-time independent workers jumped from 13.6 million in 2020 to 27.7 million in 2024, and that’s just in the U.S. It’s one of many signs that gig economy workers are steadily on the rise. Industries across the board are feeling the impact, including event staffing. 

The rise in gig workers gives organizers access to a much bigger, more flexible pool of on-demand talent across the globe. From event staff and AV teams to marketing and admin support, planners can now scale teams faster and more precisely for each event. But it’s not just about having more freelancers, it’s about having better ones. Many freelance event staff bring a stronger commitment and solid industry know-how. That means you can build a trusted roster that already gets your workflow, brand, and standards. Less time onboarding and training, more time executing. Plus, freelance event staff are ideal for last-minute or one-day staffing gaps, some of the most common challenges in event staffing.

The steady rise in gig workers is not without challenges. As the talent pool expands, it’s not just about finding someone who’s available; it’s about finding someone who’s qualified, dependable, and a good fit for your event. You should build smarter onboarding systems, set clearer expectations, and create processes that help you filter talent faster without compromising quality.

2. Upskilling 

Saying upskilling is essential in the gig economy is putting it lightly. Upskilling is the process of learning new or updated skills to stay relevant and adaptable in a fast-moving industry. While upskilling is essential for staying competitive, it’s no secret that many gig workers find it hard to do. A survey shows 52% of gig workers struggle to upskill, saying their work environment makes it challenging.

What does this mean for event staffing? It puts more pressure on organizers to step up. Despite freelancers having industry-specific knowledge, it’s still best practice to provide quick training, cheat sheets, or on-site guidance, even for short gigs. This helps ensure event staff have up-to-date knowledge and skills that can keep up with evolving demands.

3. Skills-Based Hiring

Skills-based hiring means employing people for what they can do, not just what’s on their résumé. It isn’t just a buzzword; it actually delivers value. According to a report, skills-based talent practices help businesses save 70 to 92% per employee when building emerging skills internally instead of hiring new talent.

In event staffing, skills-based hiring is a key gig economy trend worth following. This approach puts skills first, helping you match the right person to the right task. It also cuts down on unnecessary training and keeps you agile in a fast-paced environment.

4. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Automation

With more gig workers entering the work scene, it’s more important than ever to use smarter, faster systems for recruitment, and that’s where AI and automation come in. AI can help match the right people to the right roles based on skills, availability, and past performance. Automation, on the other hand, takes care of the repetitive stuff like reminders, so you don’t have to.

In event staffing, AI and automation don’t just speed things up; they change how you manage your team from start to finish. AI-powered platforms help you match staff to roles based on the qualifications you care about. Automation handles the rest, from sending shift reminders and updating changes in real time to tracking hours worked for more accurate payroll.

On-site, AI chatbots can instantly answer common staff questions, so you don’t have to deal with every small request. Automated check-in systems make onboarding and attendance tracking quicker and more accurate, cutting down on delays and mistakes. And when you’re managing multiple teams, automated task assignments and centralized communication help everything run more smoothly.

Find out more ways AI helps in event staffing in this post. If you want more details on how automation makes event staffing smoother, check here.

5. Diverse Hiring 

Diversity is a growing trend in the gig economy, drawing people from all walks of life, including students, parents, retirees, and those looking for extra income. One study even highlights how the gig economy can benefit people with disabilities. The flexibility and control let them shape jobs around their needs and schedule. Remote work also helps remove barriers like transportation and physical accessibility, making it easier to join the workforce.

The gig economy, getting more diverse, is also changing the diversity of event staff. Nowadays, diversity in event staffing is more noticeable, and its benefits are clearer. A diverse team gives event managers access to a wider talent pool, boosts engagement, and leads to better decision-making.

Learn more about how diversity and inclusion are changing modern workplaces in this article. 

6. Gen Z Workers Taking Up More Roles

As Gen Z enters the workforce, they’re not just joining traditional companies. They’re also diving into the gig economy. Today’s young professionals are drawn to flexible, purpose-driven careers, making freelance work a natural fit.

Hiring younger gig workers can bring a fresh perspective, high energy, and a natural fluency with digital tools. But attracting and keeping them requires purposeful strategies. Your listings need to reflect more than just a paycheck. A recent study found that nearly half (47.1%) of Gen Z gig worker respondents choose this path because they’re passionate about the work. They want jobs that match their interests and let them be creative. Flexibility and autonomy come next as top reasons. Income and stability matter, but they rank lower on the list.

You can’t ignore the growing Gen Z workforce. As an event manager, you need to adapt. Gen Z gig workers value meaning and balance, so if you want to attract them, speak their language. Offer event roles that are flexible, impactful, and aligned with personal growth.

Take the Stress Out of Event Staffing With StaffConnect

As you may already know, flexibility matters to gig workers, and so does autonomy. To achieve both, gig workers need a platform that supports how they work, without constant check-ins, confusing workflows, or clunky communication. This is where StaffConnect can come in handy.

StaffConnect gives gig workers the freedom to access everything they need through the mobile app, while giving you full visibility and control. Staff can view schedules, get updates, and check in with ease. You get tools like GPS check-ins, automated reminders, and a centralized staff database, so no one has to keep re-uploading files or repeating details. You can also track performance, run quick quizzes to check readiness, and handle payroll all in one place. Less back-and-forth, more getting things done. Book your free demo today to learn more.