At the AIA Convention 2009

Sitting here at the Moscone Center in San Francisco I am watching the contractor work on our booth as it comes up.
We have finally completed all registration formalities and Obelisk is a registered exhibitor at the AIA 2009 Convention and Expo. Lots of exhibitors and even though these are difficult economic times that doesn’t seem to dampen the spirit of everyone working & exhibiting at the convention.
The Convention starts on April 30 and I would keep everyone updated through the 3 days of the event.
Hope to be a big event with 22000 attendees.
More later.

Outsourcing and Recession

In a recent survey that was conducted on 600 small businesses to determine how the recession is affecting their outsourcing plans. Survey results showed that 41.9% said they planned to outsource more in the near future, either because they’ve cut full-time staff (7.0%) or because they’re simply unable to hire full-time staff (34.9%). They are also outsourcing more functions than ever before – 28.5% said they are now outsourcing something that they previously thought they couldn’t.

In light of such numbers, it’s hardly any surprise that 14.6% of them report that they have replaced employees with contractors in the last year, and 14.5% have hired a contractor who would have been otherwise unemployed or a victim of the economic downturn.

Outsource more in current recession: 41.9%

Because you have cut full-time staff: 7.0%

Because you are unable to hire full-time staff: 34.9%

Outsourcing something you previously thought you couldn’t: 28.5%

Replaced employees with service providers: 14.6%

Hired a service provider who would have otherwise been unemployed or a victim of the economic downturn: 14.5%

It should come as no shock, then, that many who have lost work recently are turning to freelancing. 32.1% of the 350 freelancers surveyed reported that they’d lost their job within the last year. A majority (59.0%) said that if they weren’t providing freelance services, they wouldn’t be able to meet their financial obligations and nearly a third (32.4%) said freelance earnings are their primary source of income. A vast majority said that there are enough freelancing jobs to meet their needs (73.9%) and feel they are earning fair rates (77.9%).

They cited “flexibility to live and work anywhere” as the number one reason for their survival, followed by guaranteed payment for hourly work and the ability to set their own hourly rate.

Lost their job in last year: 32.1%

Freelancing is my primary source of income: 32.4%

Wouldn’t be able to meet my financial obligations without freelancing: 59.0%

There are enough jobs under freelancing to meet my needs: 73.9%

I earn fair rates on freelancing assignments: 77.9%

American workers seem to be doing well in the global marketplace. 53.9% of the surveyed small businesses reported employing at least some U.S.-based contractors, while 84.3% of U.S. contractors are working for a U.S.-based buyer. Outsourcing nearly tripled during 2008, and the trend looks likely to continue.

These results certainly look good for the future and similar businesses.

(Source: The source of this information is the oDesk Blog www.odesk.com/blog posted on March 24, 2009)

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