In the fast-paced nature of college life, many students are moving away from traditional part-time jobs with fixed hours and set schedules. Instead, a growing number are entering into the gig economy — a term used to describe the landscape of flexible, sporadic work that can be picked up (or declined) on a whim. From food delivery and freelance writing to tutoring and reselling clothes online, students are piecing together income streams in ways that offer greater autonomy, even at the cost of stability.
The appeal is obvious: with timetables for lectures, assignments, and extracurriculars constantly shifting, it can be difficult to commit to the same hours every week. Taking on work as and when it suits allows students to fit earning around their academic lives, and not the other way around.
Kate, a third-year Biomed student at Trinity, replaced her contracted part-time job to a more flexible gig-based arrangement. “I am currently working for a company that gives different types of shifts each time. One day I’m working the merch stand at a concert, and the next I’m front of house at a corporate event,” she said. “I’ve worked in traditional part-time jobs before, but only during summertimes, my weeks get too busy during the term.”
She noted that the variation is a big part of the appeal: “Because you’re doing something new each time, it almost doesn’t feel like work in the same way a normal shift would. You spend half the time getting your bearings, and the other half actually working.” Kate finds these new roles through an app-based platform called Mixtape. “They publish the jobs on an app, and it’s first come, first served as to who accepts them.” For her, the freedom to turn work down is key: “You have no repercussions for saying no to a job because someone else will always take it for you. You don’t feel guilty for prioritising yourself.”
“Gig work offers the chance to explore new skills, or to monetise hobbies and personal interests”
For others, this trend in shifting work patterns isn’t just about convenience. Gig work offers the chance to explore new skills, or to monetise hobbies and personal interests. Some see it as a way to maintain control over their time during high-pressure periods, like before exams or dissertation deadlines.
James, a second-year Law student, is currently employed on a casual, shift by shift basis. “I work as an event steward at matches and concerts, and I also work with a marketing agency as a courier and brand ambassador. I drive a van to a location where I set up a stand for a company like Purina, Pepsi, Yoplait and hand out free samples.” He previously worked in a local shop as a deli assistant, but found it unsustainable during term time. “Coming up to Christmas exams, the pressure of working there with set hours, on top of exam study time, led me to having to leave the job, as I couldn’t manage both anymore.”
The lack of flexibility in his previous occupations also came with social costs. “I could feel my friendships slipping as I worked mostly evenings and weekends, right when everyone wants to hang out. I had to prioritise both my academics and social life to not fall behind.” He found one job through the job listing platform Indeed, and the other through a peer recommendation. Like Kate, he values the flexibility: “Often I’m notified of a shift three-to-four days before it happens, which means that if I’m already busy I can decline the shift, or if I’m free I can accept it.”
That said, gig work is not without its limitations, an issue that Kate recognised. “Inconsistency in jobs can be annoying. When you’re free there’s not always jobs available, so you can feel like you’re wasting your time when you could’ve been working a regular scheduled job.”
Without guaranteed hours or fixed income, budgeting can also be unpredictable, a difficulty only compounded by the issue of benefits; it is rare for gig roles to offer sick pay, paid leave, or consistent protections. “Because it’s not regular work, you don’t have a guaranteed stream of income,” James explained, meaning that “you’re often at mercy if shifts are available, and can oftentimes go weeks between a shift.”
“It’s also reshaping how students think about earning, labour, and independence”
Still, many students feel the tradeoff is worth it. Some are even finding inventive ways of earning that go beyond what many would traditionally consider “work”, from selling artwork, managing small online businesses, to building platforms on social media. The rise of digital entrepreneurship among students suggests that the gig economy isn’t just about squeezing in extra hours, but is also reshaping how students think about earning, labour, and independence.
For James, this new style of work is viable for students — but only under certain conditions. “Yes, it’s reliable if you have multiple streams that you get the income through. Unless you have a consistent guarantee, it’s best to be working for multiple companies.” For now, the shifts he picks up pay enough to cover his basic expenses and allow him to contribute a bit to savings. However, he recognised that “if you’re [also] paying for tuition and accommodation though, it would likely not be enough”. As for the future he stated “I’d consider going back to a more traditional job, during summertime or after my degree, whenever I have more time.”
While the downsides of sporadic shifts, a lack of secure benefits and the difficulties of budgeting stem from the nature of this work, the benefits, for students in particular, can often outweigh these manageable challenges. As more and more students opt out of the traditional part-time job model, it is clear that the gig economy is not just offering an alternative — it’s actively rewriting the script.
