Freelancing is the kind of job that promises to free people from a regular nine-to-five employment to one where the hours are flexible. Such choice is a blessing for people who are held back by other demands but still want to earn an income or make good use of their skills. Freelancing means that there can be more than one source of income, often short-time assignments also known as “gigs”.

It is unsurprising that the conventional image of today’s freelancer is young, laptop-carrying citizens, hurrying for gigs in a shared workspace or coffee bar in an attempt to strike a better work-life balance for themselves. In fact, those in their 30s and 40s make up the largest amount of the freelancer population in the United States and other developed countries. The US is also seeing a rise in freelancing in the retirees. Such is the appeal of the gig economy, and it does not seem to be decreasing.

Is the gig industry truly all sunshine and rainbows, though? While such an industry appeals to many folks with different needs and wants, the lack of certainty makes working in the gig economy unstable. The absence of a steady source of income makes it difficult for people to cope with emergency. Not working permanently (长久地) for a company also means one does not get to enjoy the additional benefits, such as health-care welfare, typically afforded to a permanent employee.

Moreover, instability (不稳定性) leads to insecurity. As gigs vary and assignments may not occur frequently, it is difficult to plan for the future, highlighting one of the biggest problems of the gig economy: unreliability. When life, in this increasingly uncertain and complex world, lands you in trouble, it makes perfect sense to have a permanent job, to have a steady footing in order to deal with it.

In a word, there are many benefits that come with short-term employment and more flexible, convenient working arrangement. However, there are two sides to every story. The key here is to be the captain of one's ship and master of one's fate.