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Freelancers continue to dominate the membership base of coworking spaces, but an increasing percentage of the membership classifies itself as employees, numbering around a quarter worldwide and a third in the U.S. Approximately one in nine members are entrepreneurs, running a business with employees. How do these professional statuses influence the expectations each have of a coworking space?
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In his classic 1973 paper The Strength of Weak Ties, Stanford professor Mark Granovetter described the powerful role that "weak ties" – links among people who are not closely associated - play in spreading ideas, finding jobs and helping people join together for action.
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The ideal coworking space would offer 24-hour access, have an even number of flexible and permanent desks, and would involve members in decisions about the interior design. That’s the picture drawn by the 2nd Global Coworking Survey, which asked coworkers what they want from their workspace.
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There are two myths about coworking that seem to stick around. Before members joined a coworking space, they often worked in coffee shops. And because business centers offer flexible desks, they are a threat to coworking spaces. One of these myths is conditionally true, the other is a dud.
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Coworking spaces can sometimes seem like utopian work environments. Yet the threat of old-fashioned corporate exploitation still exists for the independent workers within them. While being free of corporate hierarchies, coworkers still struggle with unequal power relationships.
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It’s no secret that mobile technologies like smart phones, tablets, and personal wireless hotspots, have made it possible for people to take their work, as well as their entertainment, with them anywhere they go. But is it healthy to always be accessible by clients, customers, and colleagues?
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The year 2011 has been a bleak one for international markets. The repercussions of the Global Financial Crisis of 2009 are still being felt, and the global economic climate is far form the image of prosperity. Distrust towards the corporate world and an emergence of new business and work trends can be observed, creating fertile ground for the coworking movement in 2012.
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The first coworker was elected to parliament. Simon Kowalewski from Yorck52 coworking space was voted into the Berlin parliament as a member of the Pirate Party in the recent city-state elections. We spoke to him about his experience as an activist and coworker, and what influence it will have on his political decisions.
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Three percent of freelancers use coworking spaces or shared offices, two percent work from cafes, while 90% still work from home. Those are findings from the Freelance Industry Report 2011, a worldwide study released recently.
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The Global Coworking Survey found that most coworkers are in their mid-twenties to late thirties, with an average age of 34. Two-thirds are men, one third are women. Those spaces that are predominantly male are very interested in reaching out to connect with what some consider the untapped freelancing audience: women. So, how can you possibly attract more women?
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We already know a fair bit about coworkers. Five students from a Berlin university found many similarities and differences between coworkers, and created a typology that helps us better understand the movement.
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Lots of people hear the word “freelance” and interpret it to mean “between jobs.” While it might be true that some aspects of a freelance job are less concrete than punching a clock in an office building every day, many freelancers feel more secure with a diverse array of clients and skills to choose from. The key to sustaining freelance success is continuing your education.
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Lots of people think that freelancing is something you do when you can’t find a real job. Some people say they could never live without the security of a traditional job. But what’s so great about living with the fear that an HR person you’ve never met will decide your job’s not necessary any more?
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The person sitting next to you could be your next business partner. That was the experience of Parker Whitney and Jake O’Brien, who founded an exciting games development company Flyclops.com after meeting at Indyhall in Philadelphia. Here’s a simple and inspiring story of what can occur when coworking really works.
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Most coworking spaces are melting pots of individuals from all ages. Our final part of the Global Coworking Survey reveals some key differences between the needs of younger and older coworkers. As they age, coworkers work less, are more flexible, and are more loyal to their coworking space. Younger coworker, by contrast, are more likely to require dedicated desks and 24-hour access.
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After four years in a coworking space, members begin to lose their satisfaction and attachment. They come in to the office less often and make plans to leave altogether. The Global Coworker Survey shows that the needs and attitudes of coworkers change the longer they stay in their workspace. They switch from flexible to permanent desks, from office hours to 24/7 plans, and desire better infastructure. What can coworking spaces do to retain members?
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We’ve reported a lot about coworking spaces and their members. Today we look at the people who might be interested in joining a coworking space, and the possible reasons they haven’t done so yet. The two most important reasons first: either there is simply no coworking space in their vicinity, or they are tied to jobs in companies. About one in eight non-coworkers said price was a barrier to their participation – but sadly these people are the ones who could benefit the most from coworking.
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The average U.S. coworker is young, male, well-educated, works in Tech, lives close to their coworking facility and is quite satisfied with coworking. This profile comes from an analysis by Emergent Research of the U.S. data from the 1st Global Coworking Survey - which were shared with Deskmag and other coworking groups as organizers of this study.
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A few days ago we published results of the Global Coworking Survey, which revealed some significant differences between female and male coworkers. We decided to dig beneath the statistics and ask some female founders of coworking spaces for their thoughts on the results. Why do women work on shorter projects and earn lower incomes, but are more content with their coworking spaces?
