Many Uber drivers and gig workers cite flexibility and the ability to set their own schedules as a top benefit of participating in the gig economy.

Eduardo Luis Riestra, a Miami Uber driver, told Florida Business Daily that he loves the flexibility and freedom that come with his job.

"As a citizen of this great country of freedom and rights, I ask you to let us be free to choose when, how and where and at what time to work," Riestra said. "The government already meddles too much in our lives, increasingly limiting our freedoms. In my 30 years as a worker, I have found no better way to earn a living than the Uber platform and other similar platforms."

According to MBO Partners, 59% of male gig workers and 74% of female freelancers say they enjoy working independently because of the flexibility this type of work offers. Freelance statistics show that the majority of independent workers aim to stay independent. 54% of men and 43% of women earn more money working as freelancers.

According to a 2020 online poll conducted by Global Strategy Group on behalf of Lyft, of the 1,092 independent contractors polled, 71% said that the freedom of being classified as an independent contractor outweighed the benefits of being an employee. 90% said being an independent contractor was a good arrangement for them and their lifestyle. Finally, 82% agreed that they would prefer to remain independent contractors, rather than become employees. 

The number of customers who use Uber increased from 93 million in 2020 to 118 million in 2021, according to Business of Apps. Uber drivers completed more than 6 billion trips in 2021, for an average of more than 17 million trips per day. More than 5 million people across the globe worked as Uber drivers in 2021.