Patrick Finney, a driver for Uber in Tampa, recently highlighted the reasons why he likes working as a freelance driver.

Finney states that driving for Uber enables him to leave his home and make additional money whenever he wants.

"I like driving because it gives me a chance to earn extra money," Finney said, "I am retired and I do not want to have regular hours; I like that I can choose to drive when I want."

According to research conducted by the Pew Research Center in 2021, 56% of current or recent gig workers listed "wanting to save extra money" as a primary motivation for working in the freelance industry.

Additionally, 52 % stated they became gig workers to help make up for a change or gap in income, while 49 % cited the opportunity to choose their own schedule as a key motivator in their choice to participate in freelance work.

Other common motivations included "wanting to be their own boss" and working recreationally or as a pastime.

According to a study conducted by Harvard Business School in 2021, 76% of 808 respondents rated flexibility as "extremely important," while 69% valued the ability to make additional income.

According to the report, 10% of respondents equated a loss of flexibility to a 15% wage reduction.

Statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate that over one-third of workers aged 65 and older work fewer than 35 hours per week in part-time jobs, U.S. News reports

In addition, the report notes that retirees are still able to perform important activities while maintaining a flexible schedule.