Uber Technologies Inc. is expanding its Uber Works temporary labor hire service to Miami, Florida, after launching the service in Chicago in October.

The on-demand labor hiring app matches people looking for shift work with companies that need temporary employees. Designed to provide “more clarity” in the temp hiring market, Uber Works allows workers to see all relevant and available shifts in one place including detailed information about shifts workers may be interested in, including information about gross pay, work location, skills and required attire.

The service, while primarily focused on workers at traditional staffing agencies, is not only expanding into Miami but also for the first time recruiting for the service from the company’s existing pool of drivers.

New York Stock Exchange-listed TrueBlue Inc., the same company that supports Uber Works in Chicago, is on board for the Miami expansion, employing, paying and handling worker benefits. As with Chicago, Uber will also be providing support for worker training services that support “skill up-leveling and promote work re-entry.”

“Uber sees a great potential in driving more reliability for businesses that have a need to fill available shifts, which is why we have taken a partnership approach,” Uber Works Chief Executive Officer Andrey Liscovich said in a statement. “We will be working with local organizations, such as the YWCA Greater Miami-Dade, to help support access to work for people all across South Florida communities.”

The potential is there for Uber to disrupt the temporary employment market with its gig economy approach. At the least, it opens the door for potentially millions of new gig workers to sign up to Uber as the service expands into new markets.

“Though Uber’s gotten into a slew of other businesses beyond ride-sharing, it’s still loss-making,” Input Mag noted. “If Uber Works succeeds, it could provide the profitability Uber so desperately needs to assuage investors’ concerns and reverse the poor performance of its stock since the company went public in May.”

Uber’s post-initial public offering stock price has been one of the leading IPO stories of the year. Uber debuted on the NYSE in May at $45 per share and has barely come close since. Uber shares were trading as low as $25.99 Nov. 14 but have recovered slightly since closing trading Wednesday at $30.13, up 1.3% for the day.

Photo: Pixabay