From permanent jobs to outsourcing to freelancing, the nature of the workforce is constantly changing with the rapid rise of digital platforms. According to the Randstad Sourceright report, twenty-five per cent of global enterprises and mid-sized companies are shifting permanent roles to contingent positions this year to remain agile.

The study based on responses from C-suite and human capital leaders and working professionals across 17 markets globally, revealed that enterprise and mid-sized businesses are using gig and freelance workers to fill the permanent positions and these workers are having the same, if not more, impact upon their talent strategies.

It was also found that more than half (55 per cent) of working professionals indicated that they are more open to non-traditional work arrangements than they had been in the past.

"Businesses and people are thinking about work in a fundamentally different way," said Rebecca Henderson, CEO of Randstad Global Businesses and executive board member. In the same way just-in-time manufacturing has transformed the responsiveness and agility of the manufacturing industry, companies are now applying that thinking to talent management. By utilizing a greater proportion of contingent talent in a workforce, businesses can respond more quickly to a changing business environment and workers can enjoy more flexibility in their roles."

Globally, about 86 per cent workers in India expressed the highest enthusiasm to take on flex work, while those in Japan (35%) were least willing. Professionals in Singapore (65%) and Brazil (68%) were also in favour of contingent work. Slightly fewer than half in France (47%) and the UK (48%) felt the same way.

Eighty-three per cent of talent leaders at large enterprises stated the right person for a job can be permanent, contingent, or a contractor and from anywhere in the world. Although a majority of human capital leaders at mid-sized companies also agreed, just 70 per cent felt this way.

The study also highlighted the industry wise outlook. It was observed that Automotive and manufacturing have the highest propensity to implement total talent management.

While eighty-six per cent of talent leaders responded that they probably or definitely will do so over the next year. It was followed by the life sciences and healthcare sector at 85 per cent and banking and financial services at 76 per cent.