Contract vs. Full-Time Jobs in the Workday Ecosystem: Which Is Right for You?

06.10.2025 | Technical Articles

Though the heat of the talent market has cooled down, there’s still plenty of new Workday opportunities out there for talented professionals. If you’re learning new Workday skillsets, refining your application tactics, and building valuable industry connections, you’ll increase your job options.

The next thing you need to determine should be whether contract positions or full-time opportunities align with your career aspirations, work style, and personal circumstances.

Having built connections with hundreds of Workday professionals, our recruiters know that compensation isn’t the only deciding factor. In fact, there are some key indicators of whether a person will find more fulfillment from contract vs full-time job opportunities.

Full-Time Employment: Stability and Breadth of Knowledge

Whether in-house at a large enterprise or a Workday implementation partner, there are a wide spectrum of advantages to full-time employment. Here’s why some Workday professionals choose permanent positions.

Broader Domain Knowledge

Are you looking to develop a range of new Workday Extend use cases? Do you want to explore the nuanced differences of HCM or Finance across various industries? Full-time Workday positions can help you become a generalist and feed your need for variety.

Plus, you’ll have more chances to interact with professionals across different functions and technologies, expanding your knowledge of how Workday contributes to the entire organization. This knowledge can help you get a better sense of how you can proactively enhance the business.

Career Advancement Opportunities

Spending more time in a single organization not only enhances your holistic thinking but provides opportunities to advance your career. Full-time employees can more easily explore knowledge outside of a project scope. If your curiosity draws you to other functions or even leadership roles, full-time jobs empower you to follow your passion and learn.

Some organizations take your career advancement a step further, providing structured professional development pathways, mentorship opportunities, and even reskilling opportunities. If you’re willing to invest in their future success, companies don’t want to lose you to the competition. That’s a higher degree of stability.

Work Culture and Benefits

We’re social beings and sometimes it’s nice to build deeper-rooted connections with coworkers. Becoming part of a work culture can help you stay motivated on difficult days, find eager collaborators on tricky projects, and gain a sense of shared purpose.

Plus, full-time workers in both Indian and the United States receive statutory benefits from their employers.

The benefits for full-time employees in the United States include:

Social Security – Employers cover half of what employees owe for social security tax rate
Medicare – Employers pay half of what employees owe for Medicare tax rate
Health Insurance – The Affordable Care Act requires employer-sponsored healthcare coverage for companies with over 50+ employees

In India, full-time employees are entitled to a range of benefits, some mandated by government statutes and others offered at the employer’s discretion, subject to eligibility criteria, including:

Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) – Employers match employee contributions to this mandatory retirement savings program as per EPFO Act 1952.
Employees’ Pension Scheme (EPS) –This is the employer’s contribution of EPF for employees who are eligible as per EPFO Act 1952.
Gratuity – Employers pay a lump sum benefit to retiring employees as per the Payment of Gratuity Act 1972.
Paid Leave – Employers provide annual leave with wages as per State Laws.

Beyond statutory requirements, companies in the United States and India can cover more comprehensive health, vision, and dental plans as well as additional retirement benefits, life and accident insurance, and more. As a consultant, you are typically covering that on your own.

The Contract Consultant Path: Flexibility and Variety

Our experience at Agilysis confirms what industry experts see: more tech professionals are choosing to become consultants. As more people gravitate towards this type of work, they’re appreciating these benefits.

Flexibility

The ability to work whenever and wherever is a major selling point for many Workday professionals. Since IT contractors are not employees, there is greater flexibility in their work schedule and where they choose to complete projects. Though Workday contractors might need to attend the occasional on-site meeting or status update, most of the rest of your schedule is open.

Additionally, choosing to be a Workday contractor also allows you to choose the projects you take on each year. From one contract to the next, you can give yourself time to develop new aptitudes, earn new certifications, or even just unwind – all on your own schedule.

Project Diversity

Contract Workday opportunities are often a better choice to deepen your knowledge. You can immerse yourself in the specific processes, configurations, and integrations necessary for a type of module or project, observing workflows in action across organizations and identifying ways to fine tune these enterprise tools.

You can more rapidly analyze the best practices across multiple companies and cherry pick the best configuration, integration, and implementation strategies for your own projects.

Higher Compensation

Consultants in the Workday ecosystem typically command significantly higher compensation compared to their full-time counterparts. This premium reflects the specialized expertise of consultants as well as their ability to deliver immediate value without extensive onboarding.

For Workday professionals weighing career options, this compensation differential often serves as a compelling incentive to pursue consulting roles, particularly for those with in-demand technical skills and certifications. Without employer-provided benefits, consultants must account for their own healthcare, retirement planning, and periods between contracts, leading to hourly rates that can be 30-50% higher than equivalent salaried positions.

Choosing between Workday Contract vs. Full-Time Jobs

We understand that Workday professionals have different career preferences and goals. People who prefer broader knowledge, career advancement, and benefits will likely be drawn to full-time work while those who like higher compensation, flexibility, and project diversity will appreciate consulting.

Whichever direction you decide to take your Workday career, Agilysis is committed to helping you find fulfilling work that aligns with your professional aspirations. The choice is yours—we’re simply here to help you succeed on your chosen path.