Young Pathways: Youths Embrace Portfolio Careers and Diversified Income Streams

In a traditional work model, employees sign contracts with companies and work for them full time, and some even end up working in the same job for decades. However, in recent times, we have observed the adoption of alternative work models where workers work for themselves as independent contractors or freelancers, performing a variety of work for different organisations or taking up project-based work with other organisations in addition to their full-time employment or study. This paper explores this phenomenon, with a focus on youths in Singapore through findings from literature and two studies conducted by the National Trades Union Congress in partnership with the Lee Kuan Yew Centre for Innovative Cities in the Singapore University of Technology and Design, which in total engaged approximately 11,000 individuals across surveys, focus group discussions, and dialogue sessions. The findings of the studies present the reasons and motivations behind the adoption of such work practices. The paper also discusses the effects of this phenomenon, particularly on workers, employers, and the nation.