There is a lot of conversation about the growth of the freelance economy.
Another work alternative on the rise (although much smaller) is job-sharing.
This is when 2 employees divide the 40 hours of a single employee position.
The division can take many forms dividing days, hours, or morning/afternoon just to name a few.
According to Adzuna, a job posting board, job-share postings nearly doubled since 2020.
The absolute numbers are very small at 0.2%.
Yet, companies posting the roles include big names like Ford, PwC, and Target.
Fast Company and the New York Post wrote articles focused on the job sharing opportunities.
There are benefits on both the employee and employer side of the equation.
My Perspective
I see job sharing as another great tool to find and retain great talent.
Like freelance, the employees engage in work at the level that best fits their lives.
The employee advantage of job sharing is stability and partnership.
For companies, there is flexibility on how the share is structured ensuring work is covered.
What concerns me is the infrastructure to support hiring.
It’s rare to find posting for a job-share.
There is no structure in place for individuals to highlight a “team” – resume or LinkedIn profiles.
So, while this is an employment option, I believe it will be a while before this employee/employer relationship model really starts to take off.
Your Turn
Have you ever been in a job share or known someone who was?
What do you see as the benefits and potential obstacles?
Would this type of employment be right for you?