In the US, the pandemic and accompanying recession have put millions out of work. Faced with a convoluted benefits application system, the hardship of unemployment, and growing self-reliance, laid-off workers are turning to online communities for crowdsourced support.

Young people have borne the brunt of the pandemic, with many schools closed and early careers put on hold. In the face of disruption, a growing number of Gen Zers are using their hobbies to earn a living, taking advantage of the boom in e-commerce to showcase and sell their wares.

As the UK recovers from the pandemic, the number of people out of work remains high. Otta is a job portal that has been designed from a candidate-first perspective, ditching the corporate blue of its competitors and providing personalised services that set it apart from the competition.

The COVID-19 crisis has laid bare the precarious nature of gig-based work, especially for Gen Zers and Yers. With young people facing dim career prospects amid an economic downturn, how can businesses within the gig economy evolve to acknowledge their reconfigured needs and values?