Cut Hiring Costs: Why Employers in Singapore Are Turning to Gig Workers

Labour costs in Singapore continue to rise, from salaries to compliance and training expenses. For many businesses, particularly those in manpower-heavy industries, this creates constant pressure to balance profitability with service standards. To manage these challenges, more employers are turning to gig workers as a cost-effective and practical solution.

Related article: How FastGig is changing the way Singapore Hires

Pay for What You Need

One of the biggest advantages of gig workers is that employers only pay for the manpower they actually need. Instead of committing to long-term employment packages, businesses can hire gig workers for specific shifts, projects, or seasonal peaks. This is especially useful in industries like F&B, retail, logistics, and events where demand fluctuates daily or seasonally. For example, restaurants can bring in additional service staff during festive dining periods, or logistics companies can scale up manpower during e-commerce sale seasons, without the burden of maintaining an oversized full-time team throughout the year.

Saving Time and Reducing Training Costs

Gig workers also help companies save on training costs. Many come with prior experience in similar roles and can adapt quickly to new environments. This shortens the learning curve and reduces the time spent on onboarding. By engaging workers who are already familiar with industry practices, businesses can maintain productivity levels with minimal disruption.

Recruitment processes are also more efficient when gig workers are hired through platforms like FastGig. Employers can access a wide pool of ready candidates, review their profiles instantly, and make quick hiring decisions. This reduces the need for prolonged advertising, interviewing, and administrative follow-ups that usually drive up recruitment costs.

Protecting Your Core Team

Relying only on full-time staff can lead to overwork during busy periods, which often results in burnout and higher turnover. Constant rehiring not only disrupts operations but also increases costs in the long run. By supplementing a core team with gig workers, employers can distribute workloads more evenly, prevent employee fatigue, and create a more sustainable staffing model. A balanced mix of permanent staff and flexible gig workers helps ensure that businesses remain both efficient and cost-conscious.

Smart Workforce Management with FastGig

FastGig makes hiring for peak seasons easier by connecting employers with a large pool of gig workers who can be deployed within 24 hours. Through its mobile-first platform, businesses can post job roles, set up shifts, and manage the entire process in just a few steps. The platform also supports shift scheduling, attendance tracking through QR code scans with geo-tagging, and automated payroll so workers are paid quickly once their jobs are completed.

For employers, this means significant savings on recruitment costs, less time spent on administration, and a flexible staffing solution that adapts to seasonal peaks or sudden changes in demand. With FastGig, businesses can stay focused on serving their customers while leaving the hiring to a streamlined, reliable platform.