Sponsored content -- With gig work rising in popularity across the country, ride-hailing services like Uber have earned the support of many who make use of the low barriers to obtain employment that require few special skills.

Part-time Uber driver Eddie Terry told the Washington D.C. Business Daily he started working for Uber to earn income in a summer when he couldn’t find a job. At that time, he saw it as a way to guarantee income each summer he had off from his substitute teaching job. Others, like full-time driver Princess Monteiro, like Uber for its flexibility. 

“I like the flexibility (of) driving Uber. I'm a single parent and I like to be able to log out if I need to attend to my kids or run an errand or do anything else pertaining to my other business," Monteiro told the Washington D.C. Business Daily. 

A gig economy study by Valeria Pulignano states the benefits come as digital labor platforms allow for individuals seeking work to find employment despite any personal challenges, disability, lack of higher education or training, family or prior commitment, long-term unemployment or retirement. 

With gig work, these low barriers to entry allow for individual employment where they might not have otherwise found it with the barriers of traditional work regarding hours, location, income and more. According to Forbes, 84% of full-time freelancers said their work lets them live the lifestyle they want, compared to 63% of full-time traditional workers. And 42% said they would not be able to work a traditional job due to life circumstances.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has only made things harder, closing down traditional places of employment. An Upwork report states about 12% of the U.S. workforce began taking gig work during the pandemic, citing reasons such as financial stability during the recession and necessity as the top driving factors.