Randstad's CEO Says 200 Million People Earn Something as Influencers
He says, "We didn't have this 10 or 15 years ago," and points to it to argue people invent new jobs.
WSJ What's News · The Tesla SpaceX Mega Merger is UnderwaySander van 't Noordende, the chief executive of Randstad, the staffing firm, said, "We have 200 million influencers making some kind of money these days." He offered the figure as an example of people coming up with new jobs.
He added, "We didn't have this 10 or 15 years ago." At Randstad, he said, they like to say that after health and family, "the job is the most important thing in your life," so people will not give it up easily.
He said, "They will come up with new jobs." He said, "AI can do a task, but AI cannot move organizations forward." In his view, people are still needed to persuade clients and colleagues and to push organizations in a new direction.
Questions people ask
What counts as an influencer making money?
It usually means someone who posts regularly on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube and gets paid for the attention. Income can come from brand sponsorships, shares of ad revenue, subscriptions, tips, and commissions on products sold through links.
Can 200 million people really make a living from it?
Most do not. Surveys of creators consistently find that a small share earns a full-time living, while most earn side income that varies month to month. The large total reflects how many people earn at least something, not how many are rich or full-time.
Why did this job appear so fast?
Smartphones, fast mobile internet, and social apps gave billions of people a free broadcast channel and a built-in audience. Platforms then added payments, ad sharing, and shopping tools, so attention could be turned into cash without a studio or employer.