By Alexis Poggendick
Although gig work has long been promoted for its flexibility, St. Petersburg workers say the reality is far more unstable.
“The Sunshine City” of St. Petersburg continued to expand as new residents, businesses and events moved into the area. Local dog trainers and event planners said they earned a living by building loyal client lists, managing multiple bookings at once and adapting their services to meet customer needs.
Many described balancing long hours, unpredictable schedules and steady communication to keep their businesses running. As the city grew, they found new opportunities to connect with clients and develop their professional skills in a competitive market.
Heather Tyack, owner of Everyday K9, a dog training service located in St. Petersburg, said she appreciated the ability to be self-employed.
“I know I can depend on myself, so it erases the need for someone to be responsible for my future,” Tyack said.
Tyack and other members of her company trained and boarded dogs for overnight stays. Her company hosted classes and special events for clients in St. Petersburg.
Tyack was able to make her own schedule and coordinate when she wanted to set up special events.
Tyack said she earned income from each service she provided for a client and that her biggest concern of gig work was about the difficulty of attracting new clients.
Tyack used Facebook, Instagram and YouTube to market Everyday K9, but even that caused difficulty as she had to ensure what potential clientele liked.
“It’s a place for [clients] to study me, stalk me [and] to kind of see what we’re doing,” Tyack said.
While flexible hours attracted people who wanted to work for themselves, inconsistent pay and a lack of benefits raised questions about long-term sustainability for some workers.
John Harris, an event technician, was drawn to gig work because it allowed him to have more flexible hours.
“This gives me time to dedicate to other projects, sources of income, as well as family and friends,” Harris said.
However, after a few weeks at his new job, Harris worried that unsteady hours were not sustainable.
“I am constantly worried about unsteady hours,” Harris said. “I will only work if my company has shows to run.”
Harris also expressed concern over the lack of benefits gig workers receive.
“I have access to some benefits, but not the same benefits as someone who is full time,” Harris said.
Despite these challenges for individual workers, gig employment remained part of a broader economic shift in St. Petersburg. Local development organizations continued planning projects aimed at supporting growth and expanding opportunities in the area.
Karisa Rojas-Norton, public relations and media manager for Pinellas County Economic Development, shared insight into how gig work supported the Pinellas County economy.
“We understand i has a very important role in providing opportunities for people to supplement their income,” Rojas-Norton said.
Rojas-Norton said that PCED is not focused on how gig work and gig workers support the county’s economy, as gig work is not a high value industry.
“What we do focus on are full time, high value jobs,” Rojas-Norton said.
Rather, the PCED is focused on how new businesses can create growth in the cities throughout Pinellas County. PCED assists small businesses and companies with government contracting.
The St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership website outlined the city’s previous projects and upcoming plans for improving walkability, livability, arts strategies and higher education. The goal of these projects was to expand the downtown St. Petersburg area and encourage economic growth, especially for gig workers.
