A temporary staffing market similar to Airtasker for casual jobs has raised $20 million from SEEK Investments.

Operating in Australia and New Zealand, the nine-year-old Sidekicker has more than 12,000 casual employees on his platform, which is used by more than 5,000 companies.

The funding will be used to accelerate further expansion in ANZ, and platform upgrades to improve the way businesses and employees interact.

Sidekicker has offices in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Auckland and Wellington, with 133 full-time employees and saw annual gross sales grow by more than 70% during the pandemic, currently placing an average of 2,500 employees known as sidekicks in jobs weekly.

Sidekicker CEO Thomas Amos co-founded the company with Jacqui Bull and said he was delighted to have the support of SEEK Investments.

“This funding round allows us to continue investing in expanding our current categories in ANZ, while delivering new capabilities to our platform that benefit both our sidekicks and customers,” he said.

“Our continued growth is evidence that we are responding to demand for both workers and employees, and this additional funding will continue to ensure that we will continue to be able to anyone who chooses to enter the casual and temporary workforce market. set; whether they are uni students seeking flexible work around their studies, parents returning to work, or international Visa holders.”

SEEK Investments CEO Andrew Bassat said: “We strongly believe in Sidekicker’s strategy and innovative solutions, and are excited to support the team as Sidekicker continues its growth journey.”

Sidekicker’s technology has disrupted an outdated hiring model, innovating the hiring of temporary and contingent workers.

Amos said the platform provides efficiency, transparency, choice and control to employees and businesses alike, and has a two-way rating and review system that promotes employee accountability and trustworthiness.

He said Sidekicker has seen companies increasingly offer their employees rates above the minimum wage, with incidental rates in hospitality and healthcare for certain positions rising between 15-25% and up to 30%, compared to six months ago.