Gig Economy Data Hub

The Gig Economy Data Hub provides an accessible, comprehensive analysis of available data sources to answer critical questions about gig and non-standard work in the United States.

Gig Basics

The Basics

A healthcare worker, a construction worker, and a woman knitting

A freelance graphic designer earns $25,000 for an ad campaign. A teacher drives for Uber on the weekends. An electrician owns and operates a successful small business. A stay-at-home mom sells Mary Kay cosmetics on Facebook. A recent immigrant cleans houses under the table. A retired woman knits hats to sell at craft fairs. What do these workers have in common?

What is a gig worker?

Gig work consists of income-earning activities outside of traditional, long-term employer-employee relationships. We know what it is not. But what IS gig work? What types of work does it include? There are several ways of describing gig work.

How many gig workers are there?

There are several ways to size the gig economy and non-standard workforce. Some count the total number of workers who participate in any form of non-standard work. Some only count those who rely on this work for their primary earnings.

Who participates in the gig economy?

Gig and non-standard workers are men and women, young and old, live across the country, and reflect the racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic diversity of the country.

What kinds of work are done through gigs?

Gig or non-standard work can be found across a wide range of occupations. It may include designing websites, driving cars, management consulting, care work, and more.

What are the experiences of gig workers?

Just as there is not one typical gig worker or one typical job, there is not one way to characterize the experience of participating in the gig economy. Diversity of experiences is a central theme of non-standard work.

2020 SHED Report Offers Glimpse of Gig Work During the Pandemic

Yoorie Chang

May 27, 2021

The Federal Reserve Board’s eighth annual SHED report was released on May 17, 2021, making it one of the first long-standing surveys to provide information on gig work during the pandemic.

Tax Day Highlights the Challenge of Documenting Income for Independent Workers

Shelly Steward

April 15, 2020

Tax Day serves as a reminder of how independent workers face additional challenges documenting their income and maintaining financial records.

Beyond Government Data: Surveys of Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Hilary Greenberg

April 14, 2020

To better understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the U.S. workforce, a variety of organizations have surveyed specific worker populations and shared key findings.

Coronavirus Data Round-Up

Shelly Steward and Hilary Greenberg

March 26, 2020

A range of data sources reflect the growing impact of COVID-19 on workers.