Entering the Gig Economy in Brunei

With the release of the Hallmark Video series on the gig economy, we explore the different types of career work in the industry and the opportunities they provide.

• A brief summary of the gig economy.

• Recapping several BAH narratives on the gig economy.

• How the pandemic pushed for the need to have and explore several alternatives to the traditional, 9-to-5 job.

The conversations around the gig economy industry have only continued to fuel a more nuanced view on the field, especially in 2022 and coming into another year of the pandemic—and how that has thoroughly affected the way we live, work, and continue to depend even more on technology and the Internet.

While we have covered what the gig economy is and whether you should be in it in another article, here is a brief summary:

A gig economy is a system where temporary jobs are commonplace and organisations or individuals contract independent workers for short-term engagements. The term “gig” is slang for “a job with a limited, specific timeframe” and traditionally refers to the work of musicians.

In the most modern and up to date sense of the word, the gig economy involves types of work that have appeared with the explosion of digital, mobile technology. The hyper-connected, tech savvy generation that have come into adulthood since societies have become 4G+ connected makes up the main body of winners when it comes to the gig work of the 21st Century.

With that summary, several types of work can fall under the umbrella definition: notably jobs like freelance work and small, home-run businesses. In fact, we’ve also looked at why Bruneian freelancers help to diversify the economy, as well as the top online freelance careers! Recently, we spoke to four different gig economy workers in Brunei in our Hallmark Video series to find out how they work, their experiences as well as a clearer view of the industry in a local environment.

One of our freelancers is an Internet streamer who is also a college student, proving that as long as you are able to balance your time, gig working can be a good side income, while at the same time be able to do content creation as a passion. This can also be a way to meet the community, and help enrich and grow it.

As the pandemic swept the world in the past two years, online teaching and learning became fundamental staples in households where there was a teacher or a student who were not able to physically go to school.

This pushed organisations like Teachmeguru to explore the potential of online classes—they also highlighted that 800 students had registered at the time. With 200 tutors working with the platform and all subjects offered at primary, secondary and tertiary levels, freelancing tutors, with the necessary qualifications, are able to turn their gig work into a full-time income as well.

Another company that has been offering opportunities to turn gig working into a full-time option is Agrome IQ, who opened their first retail outlet Agrome Market in October 2020. With 40 farmers on their platform, Agrome IQ offers farmers access and connects them to distribution channels, as well as being endorsed for certification and training.

If you are more interested in using your art skills as an illustrator or graphic designer, it can also be a good option for a side income, like our graphic designer freelancer, who began when she was in her first year of university! Additionally, a great way to enhance your business is by creating your own website, and here are several options suited to your needs.

As the Hallmark Video series on the gig economy has showcased, there is room to not only enter the gig economy industry in Brunei, but also an opportunity to let it grow as more individuals are drawn to the nature of this field, with its promise for flexible hours, independent work and nurturing one’s creative skills to help provide and pay the bills.