Amid an evolving pandemic and with the lure of flexibility and independence, more and more Americans are finding employment in the ever-growing gig economy.
Forbes reports that in 2019, there were 57.3 million freelancers in the U.S. (36% of the country's population) and it estimates there will be 86.5 million freelance workers in 2027.
Meanwhile, a Pew Research Center survey found that 31% of gig workers indicated that gig work had been their primary source of income over the last 12 months.
Wagedev.com reported that the gig economy grew by 33% in 2020 alone and had doubled since 2015. This calculates to 8.25 times faster than the U.S. economy as a whole. Of those surveyed, 74% say they love having greater flexibility, 70% said they are paid more than their peers working traditional jobs and 58% reported having a better quality of life all while working less than 30 hours per week. Four of five companies also plan on hiring more gig workers post-pandemic with 50% stating they have already done so.
The lure remains real, with a 2020 Medium article reporting that Uber had about 209,000 active drivers in California each quarter. Uber did not reply to a request for updated driver numbers prior to publication.
A 2018 Gallup poll found that 64% of gig workers preferred their current status over traditional employment.
"Independent gig workers (such as online platform workers and independent contractors) experience high levels of work-life balance, flexibility, autonomy, meaningful feedback and creative freedom. In fact, they score much higher on all these factors compared with traditional workers and other types of gig workers," according to the Gallup poll.
Supporting that poll, a recent survey by PYMNETS.com found that 75.7% of gig workers wouldn’t leave their position for a full-time opportunity.
A 2021 survey by MBO Partners wound that nearly 59% of male gig workers and 74% of female gig workers enjoy the flexibility afforded by gig work, with a majority planning to stay independent.
Last year, Small Business Trends cited a Bunny Studio survey of Bunny Pro workers found that 97% of freelance workers were in it for the long haul, with 85% being involved with gig work for at least five years, offering a snapshot trend of one gig company.