A new research report shows how many people rely on gig work as their main source of income, not just as a side hustle.
A new report from the Pew Research Center shows that 34% of gig workers said the work they did for gig platforms was their main job in the past year.
More than 10,000 people participated in the survey.
42% of current or recent gig workers with lower incomes said gig work was their main job this past year. The report said that this represents 7% of adults with lower incomes. Current or recent gig workers are people who have earned money on online gig platforms in the last year.
The report shows how important gig work is to many people. Fifty-eight percent of people who worked on online gig platforms in the last year said the money was important to them. Thirty-nine percent of people thought the money was nice but not necessary.
The research found that gig workers see their experience earning money through these platforms in a positive light, except for benefits. Roughly two-thirds of current or recent gig workers think the companies are fair in terms of pay, but nearly half think the companies are unfair when it comes to benefits. More than one-third of people who have ever done gig work have reported feeling unsafe while on the job, and nearly one-fifth have been sexually harassed while working.
