Gig Economy

Biological Parallel

Gig economy: temporary, flexible work arrangements. Biology's version: bet-hedging strategies where organisms switch roles based on conditions. Worker bees transition through multiple 'gigs'—nursing, building, foraging, guarding—as they age and colony needs shift. The advantage: flexibility and responsiveness. The cost: no mastery of single role. Desert annual plants use gig strategy—germinate opportunistically after rain rather than committing to seasonal schedules. Gig economy trades stability (permanent employment) for adaptability (respond to conditions). Evolution favors gigs in unpredictable environments.