The growth of the U.S. gig economy has taken off since the pandemic, and a considerable proportion of open jobs are now hourly roles. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that last year nearly 79 million workers aged 16 or older were paid on an hourly basis.

While companies looking to fill such positions can advertise openings on their websites or on general employment networking platforms, a Playa Vista-based company is looking to cater specifically to this type of job listing. 

Gigs was launched this February as a pilot program and, through its partnerships, has more than 250,000 jobs listed nationwide. Founded by Allen Narcisse, formerly the head of marketing at Lyft and chief executive officer at energy industry staffing network Workrise, Gigs exclusively promotes employment opportunities in hourly roles. The company, which raised $2.7 million in a May pre-seed funding round led by Windsor Hills-based Slauson & Co., seeks to help address what it sees as an issue of transparency in the hiring process.

Narcisse said the funding would allow the company to expand its sales and marketing efforts. Current clients include Santa Monica-based Salted Inc., a restaurant development and scaling platform, and shipping services company ReturnMates. Job seekers can find postings including retail roles at Macy’s or Walgreens, management work at El Segundo-based Mendocino Farms and security positions at Allied Universal.

The company launched its employer portal last month to let companies design their own advertisements and take further control over interaction with applicants. A gap on other job boards that Gigs looks to fill is the ability for companies to “show their brand” and communicate the values of a job. He said it’s responding to the fact that most of its applicants are Generation Z or Millennials by giving employers the ability to create more interactive, image-centric job listings, rather than just posting paragraphs of text to a list job duties. Employers can post photos, such as what their team or location looks like, and Gigs will soon roll out a video function. 

The platform is free for job applicants, and employers only pay per “quality” applicant, meaning those who fit the experience and qualifications required for a given position. Employing companies pay between $5 and $10 per applicant depending on the business or industry, and don’t pay any monthly subscription or service charge.