Education

Mistaking an employee for a contractor can devastate any business, with fines of up to A$63,000 per breach. Contract work is definitely on the rise. A recent survey by PwC revealed that 46 per cent of global human resources (HR) professionals believe contractors or temporary workers will comprise at least 20% of their workforce by 2022. The sentiment is strongest in China, where half of the survey’s respondents believe traditional employment is being chipped away by an emerging preference among workers for greater freedoms, entrepreneurship and specialist skills. In Australia, 23% of employers say they now regularly engage contract or temporary staff – with another 44% employing them for special projects – according to the 2017 Hays Salary Guide. The Australian Bureau of Statistics estimates there are one million independent contractors currently working in Australia, representing about 9% of the workforce – an increase of 2% in the last six year. Why use a contractor? For a businesses looking to lower overheads and improve flexibility, contracting appears to be a perfect solution. In theory, employers can hire the resources they need, when they need them, without taking on the associated infrastructure and taxation overheads required for permanent employees. In Australia, […] read more