Gig economy stories

The Real World rolls out expert-approved Campus Graduation Certificate to prove practical skills, as employers question the value of AI training.

Humanforce broadens frontline labour platform with Connect, uniting agency management, private marketplaces and contingent workforce orchestration.

Agoyu secures patent for AI-powered moving app that scans video inventories, matches licensed movers and returns quotes in minutes.

PayPal brings payment links into Canva for 265 million users, letting creators, entrepreneurs and small firms sell from designs with QR codes and checkouts.

Thunes has won the Best Cross-Border Payment Solution award at the MPE Awards 2026 after judges praised its global reach, FX pricing and compliance platform.

AI trainer jobs are booming as NZ firms tap global talent, while startups abroad chase specialists and remote staff drift back to cities.

EarnIn says US workers have made over 1m Live Pay transactions since July 2025, underscoring rising demand for real-time access to wages.

Employers plan to cut junior hiring as AI expands, leaving most staff feeling unprepared for rapid shifts in work and skills demand.

Digital marketplaces are empowering UK women to turn side hustles into scalable brands, bypassing traditional funding bottlenecks.

Stress is surging for New Zealand's small business owners, with nearly half considering closing as rising costs and tax shocks take their toll.

GoCab secures USD $45m in equity and debt to expand gig driver vehicle financing and electric mobility across Africa and emerging markets.

TerraPay partners with MilX to speed cross-border payouts, giving YouTube creators faster local-currency access to earnings in 70+ markets.

Delivery Hero uses Twilio automated voice calls to cut rider contact by 25%, slash escalations over 60% and lift last-mile answer rates.

Hnry and Volley launch Scan to Pay using open banking, letting sole traders take QR code payments on the spot for a 35-cent flat fee.

Language learning platform Preply secures $150 million to boost AI tools and global growth, valuing the business at $1.2 billion.

Feijoa joins Creative HQ's Fintech Lab to scale its round-up saving app, aiming to lift inconsistent KiwiSaver contributions nationwide.

By 2026, work will be more flexible and AI-driven, as tougher compliance, on-demand jobs and faster hiring reshape life for Kiwi workers.

Outsized rolls out pre-built independent consulting squads for ANZ banks, targeting AUD $200,000-AUD $2 million transformation projects.

Cybersecurity teams face digital border taxes, AI-first clouds, agentic AI threats and the end of VPNs as 2026 reshapes digital risk.

New Zealand's Supreme Court has ruled that Uber drivers are employees, enabling thousands to claim full employment rights and backdated pay.