INs AND OUTs - PYMNTS.com...INs AND OUTs OF THE GIG ECONOMY MAY 2018 Index Gig Economy Index Gig...
Transcript of INs AND OUTs - PYMNTS.com...INs AND OUTs OF THE GIG ECONOMY MAY 2018 Index Gig Economy Index Gig...
Gig economy workers are projected to account for more than $1.4 trillion of the total U.S. income in 2018.
“ “
of gig workers receive 40 percent or more of their income from gig economy jobs.37.2%said they’d do more gig work if they were paid faster.84.3%would not quit their gigs for a full-time job.75.7%
A QUARTERLY REPORT ABOUT THE
INs AND OUTs OF THE GIG ECONOMY
MAY 2018Index™
Gig Economy
Index™
Gig Economy
ACKNOWLEDGMENTThe Gig Economy Index™ was done in collaboration with Hyperwallet, and PYMNTS is grateful for the company’s support and insight. PYMNTS.com retains full editorial
control over the findings presented, as well as the methodology and data analysis.
SUMMARY STATS
INTRODUCTION
WHO ARE THE GIG WORKERS?
GIG WORK AND SEASONALITY
WHAT’S IN IT FOR THE GIG WORKER?
WHAT DISCOURAGES PARTICIPATION IN GIG ECONOMY?
THE REAL WORK OF GIG WORKERS
THE RISE OF DIGITAL MARKETPLACES
WHO HIRES GIG WORKERS AND HOW ARE THEY PAID?
DEEP DIVE: The Gig Economy Skill Set
MARKET POTENTIAL
FEATURE STORY: Freelancer.com And Escrow.com
Aim To Ease Gig Workers’ Financial Woes
METHODOLOGY
ABOUT
Index™
Gig Economy
TABLE OFCONTENTS
04
05
07
09
13
15
17
21
28
36
40
41
43
45
© 2018 PYMNTS.com All Rights Reserved 4
SUMMARY STATISTICS
53%SAY THEY WERE HIRED INSTEAD OF REGULAR
EMPLOYEES.
49%OF OUR SAMPLE WORKS FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSUMERS.
59.1%OF GIG WORKERS USE DIGITAL MARKETPLACES TO FIND NEW OPPORTUNITIES.
More Than 14%OF GIG WORKERS WORK IN ART, DESIGN, ENTERTAINMENT, SPORTS AND MEDIA.
19%SAY THE MAIN REASON THEY HAVE A GIG JOB IS TO MAKE EXTRA MONEY OR COVER DAY-TO-DAY EXPENSES.
Almost 30%OF THE GIG WORKERS WHO WORK FOR BUSINESSES ALSO DO SO FOR CONSUMERS.
6%SAY THEY DO GIG WORK TO EXPAND THEIR SKILLS.
35%OF OUR SAMPLE WORKS IN THE GIG ECONOMY.
OF GIG WORKERS SAY THEY WERE HIRED BECAUSE THEY
HAVE UNIQUE SKILLS TO COMPLETE AN AD HOC PROJECT.41%
GIG WORKERS’ YEARLY
COLLECTIVE
EARNINGS TOTALS
$1.4 TRILLION.
© 2018 PYMNTS.com All Rights Reserved 5
INTRODUCTION
Gig work’s proliferation has been alternately portrayed as a liberating revolution for workers and a road to exploitation and poverty. The
truth of the matter is far more complex, and PYMNTS has been exploring the nuances and analyzing various dimensions of the gig economy since 2016. We dig even deeper in this report, examining the roles seasonality, digital marketplaces, worker training and other elements play in the gig economy. There is at least one certainty in this debate: The gig economy is becoming larger and more important in the wider U.S. economy every day.
In fact, 35 percent of our survey respondents worked gigs — ad hoc work provided over a set time or on demand — in the past year. This represents a steady increase in gig work since Fall 2016, and the numbers are in line with other recent studies. One, by Upwork and the Freelancers Union, projected that freelancers will make up more than 50 percent of the U.S. workforce within 10 years.1
Our research shows that gig work has moved well beyond driving for Uber and the odd job listed on TaskRabbit. People are completing ad hoc projects across a spectrum of industries — from landscaping to design and engineering — and are present in nearly every category used by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).2 Gig work is the most prevalent in art, design, entertainment, sports and media, with 14 percent of gig workers working in the field compared to 1.8 percent of regular employees. One explanation is the growing popularity of digital marketplaces, websites and apps that can not only connect workers with clients but also facilitate payment, taxes and other administrative elements.
1 Author unknown. Freelancing in America 2017. Upwork. 2017. https://www.upwork.com/i/freelancing-in-america/2017/. Accessed April 2018.
2 Stangler, Cole. December jobs report: How may gig economy workers are there, really? IB Times. 2016. http://www.ibtimes.com/december-jobs-report-how-many-gig-economy-workers-are-there-really-2255765. Accessed April 2018.
© 2018 PYMNTS.com All Rights Reserved 6
INTRODUCTION
We found that the gig economy isn’t so much supplanting the regular job market as it is evolving with its own unique characteristics. One of these is seasonality, or work done at certain times of the year. While only 7 percent of non-gig employees work on a seasonal basis, 32 percent of gig workers do. The gig economy also appears to be opening opportunities for non-skilled workers, with our research indicating that ad hoc employment has allowed those with low skill levels to work in more advanced occupations. We also see some with advanced degrees doing gig work well below their skill sets.
We’ve also attempted to get into both gig and non-gig workers’ heads. What motivates them? Is it money or the flexibility? For the majority who remain on the sidelines of the gig economy, what’s keeping them from joining in? We analyzed more than 10,000 survey responses, dividing the respondents into two groups: gig workers and non-gig workers. We believe our analysis of the answers received will offer vital insights into the current state of the gig economy.
All data, unless noted otherwise, is original and proprietary.
© 2018 PYMNTS.com All Rights Reserved 7
WHO ARE GIG EMPLOYEES?
According to Q4 2017 data, 35 percent of our respondents participated in some form of gig work in the past year. That’s up from the 30 percent noted in Q3 2017 and the 33 percent in
the same period of 2016. Of those surveyed, 23 percent were currently working a gig and 12 percent had done so in the past year.
So, who are these gig workers? Perhaps contrary to the conventional attitude, most are anything but slackers. More than half have full-time regular jobs, and only 15 percent rely solely on gig work.
FIGURE 1 The proportion of the workforce engaged in gig work is increasing Total percentage of gig workers in our sample
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%Q3 2016 Q4 2016 Q2 2017 Q3 2017 Q4 2017
30%33% 32% 32%
35%
regular full-time job
One or more regular part-time jobs
regular full-time & part-time jobs
Don’t have a regular job
FIGURE 2 Gig work is correlated with lower education levels Breakdown: gig workers by education levels
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Less than a high school degree
High school degree or GED
College degree
Some college
24% 36% 12% 29%
21% 50% 14% 16%
24% 46% 11% 19%
14% 61% 12% 12%
Postgraduate degree 15% 64% 10% 11%
© 2018 PYMNTS.com All Rights Reserved 8
WHO ARE GIG EMPLOYEES?
FIGURE 3 Most gig workers also maintain regular, full-time jobs Breakdown: gig workers, by employment status
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Don’t have a regular job
15%12%
19%
Regular full-time &
part-time jobs
Regular full-time job
One or more regular
part-time jobs
60%55%
FIGURE 4 Workers who rely solely on gig work tend to be older Breakdown: employment, by age
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
65+
55-64
35-44
45-54
29% 19% 3% 49%
25% 42% 9% 24%
17% 60% 9% 14%
14% 64% 12% 9%
25-3413% 63% 14% 10%
18-2432% 38% 15% 15%
regular full-time job
One or more regular part-time jobs
regular full-time & part-time jobs
Don’t have a regular job
According to our findings, less educated and older workers are more likely to work exclusively in the gig economy, and to do so without full-time jobs. This shows that gig workers cannot be painted with a broad brush, as their skills, occupations, levels of participation and motivation vary widely.
© 2018 PYMNTS.com All Rights Reserved 9
GIG WORK AND SEASONALITY
As the song goes, “To everything, there is a season.” So it is with much of gig work, too, as gigs
are much more likely to be seasonal in nature than regular jobs. Our research has shown that the number of people doing gig work increases in the fourth quarter of the year, likely corresponding with the holiday season. It could be that people take on gigs to ensure they can put gifts under the tree, or simply that there are more retail gigs available during the busy shopping season.
Seasonality is an elastic concept, however. Some gigs correspond to a sports season, including selling souvenirs outside a stadium, but others might include working during construction season — a limited timeframe in the colder parts of the U.S. Only 7 percent of non-gig workers work on a seasonal basis, but 32 percent of gig workers do.
So, about which types of seasonal work are we talking? Respondents identified several of the most common categories as linked to weather, such as landscaping and construction. It bears noting that 34.7 percent said their seasonal work fell into the “other” category. “Other” reflects the very long tail of the gig economy, with people tutoring, coaching, engineering, performing financial operations, babysitting, writing and more. Among the examples offered by respondents were “A lot of different things,” “I do financial operations,” “Flex work social media” and “Writing articles for newspapers.”
FIGURE 5 Percentage of non-gig work that is seasonal Seasonal non-gig work
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%Yes
7%
No
93%
FIGURE 6 Percentage of gig work that is seasonal Seasonal gig work
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%Yes
32%
No
68%
© 2018 PYMNTS.com All Rights Reserved 10
GIG WORK AND SEASONALITY
FIGURE 7 In which industry is your primary gig job? Type of seasonal gig economy job
CONSTRUCTION
ONLINE SALES/RETAIL FOOD
MAINTENANCEDELIVERYSPORTS
FARMING
3.1%
3.2%
3.3%
2.9%
2.7%
2.0%2.2%
2.0%
1.6% 1.4%
1.5%
1.3%
1.4%
2.8%
34.7%
9.0%
9.0%
8.2%
7.5%
ART/ACTING
VOLUNTEEREVENTS
HEALTHCARE
SNOW PLOWING
DESIGNER
LEISURE EDUCATION
TECHNOLOGY
ADMINISTRATIVE
LANDSCAPING
OTHER
© 2018 PYMNTS.com All Rights Reserved 11
FIGURE 8 The extent to which a gig worker relies on the internet to find gigs varies by industry Digitalmarketplaceusage,byjobfield
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Construction and extraction
Transportation and material moving
Food preparation and serving
Computer and mathematical
Office and administrative support
Building/grounds cleaning and maintenance
Healthcare support
Management
Installation, maintenance and repair
Business and financial operations
Production
Community and social services
Life, physical and social science
Healthcare practitioners and technical
Farming, fishing and forestry
Legal
Protective services
Architecture and engineering
Personal care and services
57%
58%
62%
54%
30%
35%
35%
59%
32%
43%
53%
37%
40%
22%
35%
26%
29%
51%
16%
49%
71%
74%
65%
60%
63%
47%
58%
68%
41%
65%
65%
70%
46%
38%
42%
43%
84%
Sales and related
Education, training and library
Arts, design, entertainment, sports and media
27%
19%
17%
81%
73%
83%
yes
no
78%
© 2018 PYMNTS.com All Rights Reserved 12
GIG WORK AND SEASONALITY
Certain industries are highly seasonal in nature. Fishing and farming employs the most seasonal workers at 62 percent. Fifty-nine percent work on a seasonal basis within the production sector, which includes a variety of manufacturing-related activities, and 58 percent do so in protective services, which includes security guards, police and firefighters.
Gig workers have broad ideas about what constitutes seasonality. It’s conventional for some — winter or spring, for example — or refers to a time when work is most plentiful in an industry, such as construction or tax filing. As shown in Figure 9, many respondents chose “other” in response to the question.
FIGURE 9 How gig workers define seasonality Seasonal gig work, by segment
CONSTRUCTIONSPRING/SUMMER
SUMMER WINTER
SCHOOL YEAR
TAX SEASON
HARVEST
SPORTS SEASON CHRISTMAS
0.1% SPRING
0.4% SPRING/FALL
9.9%
7.2% 3.1%
2.4%2.4%3.1%
2.1% 1.8%
8.4%
59.1%OTHER
© 2018 PYMNTS.com All Rights Reserved 13
WHAT’S IN IT FOR THE GIG WORKER?
Why do people take gig economy jobs? It isn’t all about the money, though that is certainly a large part of it. The most common reasons
workers gave for taking on gig work is that it puts more spending money in their pockets, followed by flexibility and being able to set one’s schedule. These have remained leading motivations since PYMNTS began tracking the gig economy in 2016.
To drill a little deeper into these workers’ motivations, we’ve broadened the options in our latest analysis to include incentives like tax benefits or career growth. Money and flexibility remain kings, but nearly 6 percent of respondents said they perform gig work to expand their skill sets — highlighting a perhaps overlooked benefit of the gig economy.
Gig workers have vastly different attitudes toward ad hoc work, depending on their employment status. Many who work exclusively in the gig economy appear to be true believers, whether out of principle or necessity. Most do not want or need a regular job, and only 24 percent are looking for one.
FIGURE 10 Several factors encourage workers to seek gig employment The most important factor encouraging gig economy work
0% 10% 20% 30%
I’ve engaged in gig economy work to further
develop my skills
I’ve engaged in gig economy work to change
the type of work I do
I am using the money to save for discretionary purposes
I wanted to make extra money/money to pay day-to-day bills
I am using the money to save for a big life event
I work on gigs while I look for full-time employment
It allows me to support my passion or hobby
I like the work hour flexability
The gig economy income is not taxed via payroll deductions and I handle all tax issues
6%
4%
19%
17%
13%
5%
14%
16%
4%
Other 2%
© 2018 PYMNTS.com All Rights Reserved 14
WHAT’S IN IT FOR THE GIG WORKER?
FIGURE 12 Why workers with regular employment maintain gig jobs Reasons for both gig economy and regular jobs
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%Only want to keep gig job
.2% 1%
17%
Other Change type of work
60%
9%
Developing skills
Supporting a hobby
19%
32%
70%
Additional income to save for a big
life event
More earnings and
flexibility
47%
70%
Additional income
FIGURE 11 Why gig-dependent workers lack alternative employment Reasons for only having gig economy jobs
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%Temporarily not working in my
regular job
5%
12%
60%
Currently in school
Currently looking for
one
60%
24%
Don’t want/ need one
Conversely, only 0.2 percent of those with regular jobs would only want to work at their gig jobs. They view gigs as ways to earn additional income or have more flexibility.
© 2018 PYMNTS.com All Rights Reserved 15
WHAT DISCOURAGES PARTICIPATION IN GIG ECONOMY?
While the proportion of those participating in the gig economy has been steadily increasing, 65 percent of respondents do not hold gig
economy jobs. The most common reason for non-participation is a lack of awareness about or interest in gig economy work. In fact, more than 38 percent of all respondents without gig jobs said they had not heard about them or did not know how to get one. This would suggest that more than one-third of all people would like to get a gig job if they could find one. Another common reason was that they did not need the money, underscoring that most work gigs to supplement their paychecks.
Those with higher incomes tend to be more aware of the gig economy than those on the lower end of the economic spectrum. Fourteen percent of respondents making $150,000 or more said they had never heard of gig economy jobs and 5 percent said they did not know how to obtain such work, as did 22 percent of those making less than $25,000.
Those aged 55 and older were the least likely to know about the gig economy, not surprising given the novelty of the phenomenon and that they’re more likely to be retire. Meanwhile, just 14 to 15 percent of those under 44 had not heard of gig economy jobs.
Education also corresponds with gig economy awareness. Twenty-four percent of those with only a high school diploma were unfamiliar with the gig economy, as were only 11 percent of those with post-graduate degrees.
© 2018 PYMNTS.com All Rights Reserved 16
WHAT DISCOURAGES PARTICIPATION IN GIG ECONOMY?
FIGURE 13 Why workers with regular employment do not seek gig work Main reasons for not participating in gig work
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%
I have never heard about nor tried to find gig jobs
I dont’t know how to get one
I do not need extra income
Not skilled enough
Retired
Hobbies do not require income from gig jobs
Could not find a gig economy work
Disabled
Compensations are low
Finding gig jobs takes too long
No time
Family duties
Other
Technology to find gig jobs is complicated
Taxes for gig economy work are complicated
Not interested
Need full-time job benefits
29%
21%
9%
8%
6%
5%
5%
4%
3%
3%
1%
1%
1%
1%
1%
1%
0.3%
© 2018 PYMNTS.com All Rights Reserved 17
THE REAL WORK OF GIG WORKERS
The gig economy has, in many ways, become synonymous with ridesharing firm Uber and other tech-centered ventures. Our research
shows a sector that’s much more gig-centric than transportation, though, and it’s creative fields like art, design, entertainment, sports and media. This won’t be news to the aspiring filmmaker laboring as a production assistant on a commercial or the would-be novelist working on copyediting projects while hoping to catch her big break. More than 14 percent of gig workers serve in this space, compared to just 1.8 percent of regular employees.
Though the gig economy is not all ridesharing and other such services, transportation is a much more common line of work among gig workers than it is with regular employees. There are also fields in which gig work has not yet made significant inroads. This includes the more than 12 percent of regular jobs in the office and administrative sector completed by only 4.8 percent of gig workers. Having to show up at an office might defeat the purpose for many ad hoc employees, however.
Our research shows gig work isn’t necessarily unskilled work. Fifty-five percent of those who work on an ad-hoc basis in fields like architecture and engineering said their work required very specific skills. Many working in fields related to education, training and libraries also said specific skills were required. The transportation and moving sector has the highest proportion of non-skilled workers at 63 percent, followed by sales and farming, and fishing and forestry.
© 2018 PYMNTS.com All Rights Reserved 18
0% 4% 8% 12%
Construction and extraction
Transportation and material moving
Food preparation and serving
Computer and mathematical
Office and administrative support
Building/grounds cleaning and maintenance
Healthcare support
Management
Installation, maintenance and repair
Business and financial operations
Production
Community and social services
Life, physical and social science
Healthcare practitioners and technical
Farming, fishing and forestry
Legal
Protective services
Architecture and engineering
Personal care and services
3%
4%
4%
6%
13%
2%
6%
7%
7%
3%
5%
2%
1%
6%
3%
1%
2%
2%
3%
Sales and related
Education, training and library
Arts, design, entertainment, sports and media
12%
9%
2%
16%
FIGURE 14a In which industries do non-gig workers find their jobs? Primary job descriptions for non-gig workers
0% 4% 8% 12%
7%
4%
6%
5%
7%
2%
4%
6%
6%
3%
4%
2%
2%
4%
2%
2%
1%
2%
4%
11%
10%
5%
16%
FIGURE 14b In which industries do gig workers find their regular day jobs? Primary job descriptions for gig workers with regular jobs
Construction and extraction
Transportation and material moving
Food preparation and serving
Computer and mathematical
Office and administrative support
Building/grounds cleaning and maintenance
Healthcare support
Management
Installation, maintenance and repair
Business and financial operations
Production
Community and social services
Life, physical and social science
Healthcare practitioners and technical
Farming, fishing and forestry
Legal
Protective services
Architecture and engineering
Personal care and services
Sales and related
Education, training and library
Arts, design, entertainment, sports and media
© 2018 PYMNTS.com All Rights Reserved 19
0% 4% 8% 12%
6%
6%
6%
5%
5%
4%
4%
4%
4%
3%
3%
3%
2%
2%
2%
2%
1%
1%
7%
10%
8%
14%
16%
FIGURE 14c In which industries do gig workers find their gig jobs? Primary job descriptions for gig workers
Construction and extraction
Transportation and material moving
Food preparation and serving
Computer and mathematical
Office and administrative support
Building/grounds cleaning and maintenance
Healthcare support
Management
Installation, maintenance and repair
Business and financial operations
Production
Community and social services
Life, physical and social science
Healthcare practitioners and technical
Farming, fishing and forestry
Legal
Protective services
Architecture and engineering
Personal care and services
Sales and related
Education, training and library
Arts, design, entertainment, sports and media
© 2018 PYMNTS.com All Rights Reserved 20
FIGURE 15 Which skills qualify workers for their gig jobs? Skills required for primary gig economy job
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
somewhat specific
Non-specific
very specific
uncertain
44% 29% 24% 3%
16% 38% 42% 3%
33% 33% 33% 0%
25% 44% 29% 2%
24% 21% 55% 0%
29% 39% 30% 2%
23% 29% 47% 2%
26% 34% 35% 4%
39% 37% 22% 2%
45% 25% 29% 1%
24% 35% 41% 0%
50% 33% 14% 3%
51% 27% 20% 2%
55% 30% 13% 2%
39% 24% 36% 1%
56% 27% 17% 1%
22% 29% 49% 0%
51% 25% 23% 1%
31% 40% 26% 3%
63% 20% 15% 1%
32% 30% 35% 3%
53% 38% 7% 1%
Construction and extraction
Transportation and material moving
Food preparation and serving
Computer and mathematical
Office and administrative support
Building/grounds cleaning and maintenance
Healthcare support
Management
Installation, maintenance and repair
Business and financial operations
Production
Community and social services
Life, physical and social science
Healthcare practitioners and technical
Farming, fishing and forestry
Legal
Protective services
Architecture and engineering
Personal care and services
Sales and related
Education, training and library
Arts, design, entertainment, sports and media
© 2018 PYMNTS.com All Rights Reserved 21
THE RISE OF DIGITAL MARKETPLACES
Growth in use of online platforms is closely associated with the gig economy, allowing for the meteoric rise of Uber and Lyft, among others. Digital marketplaces have proliferated across many sectors, and there are now sites like freelancer.com, manpower.com and Upwork that help workers in many lines of work — from manual
laborers to software engineers — find jobs and facilitate elements like payment and taxes. Our research shows nearly 60 percent of gig workers use these marketplaces to find new gig opportunities and, not surprisingly, that usage tends to be more prevalent among younger gig workers.
FIGURE 16 Which age groups tend to find their gigs online? Digital marketplace usage, by age
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
65+
55-64
35-44
45-54no
yes
42% 58%
49% 51%
49% 51%
59% 41%
25-3468% 32%
18-2469% 31%
More than 55 percent of gig workers rely on a single entity to help them find their gigs, and nearly half are very or extremely satisfied with their sourcing methods.
FIGURE 17 Are gig workers happy with the organizations that find them gigs? Satisfaction with gig work sourcing method
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Not at all satisfied
5%
17%
31%
Slighty satisfied
Somewhat satisfied
60%
32%
Very satisfied
15%
Extremely satisfied
© 2018 PYMNTS.com All Rights Reserved 22
THE RISE OF DIGITAL MARKETPLACES
Whether a worker possesses a high degree of skill does not appear to impact his usage of digital marketplaces. Skilled workers tend to use a greater number of entities to find work, however.
FIGURE 18 Workers of all skill levels use digital marketplaces to find gigs Digital marketplace usage, by skill
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Non-specific
Somewhat specific
Very specific
no
yes
58% 42%
62% 38%
58% 42%
21%
20%
16%
FIGURE 19 The more specified the skill level, the fewer sources a worker uses to find gigs Number of source entities, by skill
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Non-specific
Somewhat specific
Very specific
2
1
59% 25%
50% 30%
56% 23%
3+
Digital marketplaces have made strong inroads into some unlikely industries, too. Farming, fishing and forestry have a high proportion of gig workers using digital marketplaces, followed by production and protective service. There is also a stronger tendency for gig workers in fields like management and architecture/engineering to use multiple digital marketplaces to find jobs.
© 2018 PYMNTS.com All Rights Reserved 23
FIGURE 20 The number of job sources a gig worker uses varies by industry Number of entities used, by industry
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
2
1
3+
46% 30% 24%
51% 22% 27%
52% 33% 14%
48% 33% 19%
40% 31% 29%
34% 31% 34%
48% 27% 25%
58% 18% 24%
45% 32% 23%
48% 30% 21%
50% 28% 22%
56% 29% 15%
61% 22% 17%
61% 24% 15%
50% 36% 15%
58% 26% 17%
67% 22% 11%
59% 26% 15%
57% 25% 19%
59% 23% 18%
59% 22% 19%
59% 21% 21%
Construction and extraction
Transportation and material moving
Food preparation and serving
Computer and mathematical
Office and administrative support
Building/grounds cleaning and maintenance
Healthcare support
Management
Installation, maintenance and repair
Business and financial operations
Production
Community and social services
Life, physical and social science
Healthcare practitioners and technical
Farming, fishing and forestry
Legal
Protective services
Architecture and engineering
Personal care and services
Sales and related
Education, training and library
Arts, design, entertainment, sports and media
© 2018 PYMNTS.com All Rights Reserved 24
FIGURE 21 How satisfied are gig workers with digital marketplaces as a job source? Satisfaction with digital marketplace
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%
23%
17%
13%
18%
17%
23%
15%
11%
14%
36%
11%
19%
14%
29%
12%
28%
13%
17%
26%
14%
24%
18%
Construction and extraction
Transportation and material moving
Food preparation and serving
Computer and mathematical
Office and administrative support
Building/grounds cleaning and maintenance
Healthcare support
Management
Installation, maintenance and repair
Business and financial operations
Production
Community and social services
Life, physical and social science
Healthcare practitioners and technical
Farming, fishing and forestry
Legal
Protective services
Architecture and engineering
Personal care and services
Sales and related
Education, training and library
Arts, design, entertainment, sports and media
© 2018 PYMNTS.com All Rights Reserved 25
THE RISE OF DIGITAL MARKETPLACES
When it comes to how workers feel about the digital marketplaces they use, those working in installation, maintenance and repair indicated they were the most satisfied, followed by those in healthcare and farming, fishing and forestry.
Why do gig workers use digital marketplaces? The most common reason, cited by more than one-third, is that they help identify potential clients in real time — not just prospects that might pan out down the road. That payments can be handled via the marketplace was also an important consideration.
While receiving payments through digital marketplaces is relatively uncommon, workers in certain sectors are more likely to have payment handled via such platforms. This is seen in 15.1 percent of creative fields like arts, design, sports, entertainment and media, and least common in healthcare and farming, fishing and forestry.
FIGURE 22 The benefits of using the internet to find gig work Services provided by digital marketplaces
0% 10% 20% 30%
Offers leads in real time
Customer acquisition in real time
Paid through the marketplace
Leads that have agreed to an acceptable price
Marketplace handles taxes via payroll deductions
Opportunity to obtain healthcare coverage
Other benefits
Provision of healthcarecoverage
36%
31%
31%
15%
12%
12%
10%
40%
Other 1%
33%
© 2018 PYMNTS.com All Rights Reserved 26
THE RISE OF DIGITAL MARKETPLACES
FIGURE 23 Some gig workers are paid via online channels Payment through the digital marketplace, by industry
• ARTS
• DESIGN
• ENTERTAINMENT
• SPORTS
• MEDIA
• CONSTRUC-TION
• EXTRACTION
• HEALTHCARE SUPPORT
• LEGAL • ARCHI-TECTURE
• ENGI-NEERING
• PROTEC-TIVE SER-VICES
• FARMING
• FISHING
• PRODUCTION• LIFE
• PHYSICAL
• SOCIAL SCIENCE
• INSTALLA-TION
• MAINTE-NANCE
• REPAIR
• BUILDING CLEANING
• GROUNDS CLEANING
• BUSINESS
• FINANCIAL
• MANAGEMENT • COMMUNITY
• SOCIAL SERVICE
• OFFICE
• ADMIN SUPPORT
• PERSONAL CARE
• PERSONAL SERVICE
• FOOD PREPARATION AND SERVING
• EDUCATION
• TRAINING
• LIBRARY
• TRANSPORTATION
• MATERIAL MOVING
• COMPUTER
• MATHEMATICAL
• SALES AND RELATED
5.9%
4.6%
4.1%
2.5%
2.1% 1.7% 1.7%1.6% 1.4%
0.6%
2.2% 2.2% 2.2%
2.9%
4.5%
8.1%
7.2%
6.7%
5.7% 4.9%
• HEALTHCARE PRACTITIONERS AND TECHNICAL
15.1% 11.9%
© 2018 PYMNTS.com All Rights Reserved 27
Gig workers who do not use digital marketplaces remain skeptical of their value. More than half wouldn’t use them even if they provided valuable features, and 39 percent said they would use them only if they didn’t cost too much.
THE RISE OF DIGITAL MARKETPLACES
FIGURE 24 Some gig workers remain skeptical of digital marketplaces as a job source Percentage of gig workers willing to use digital marketplaces if they provided valuable features
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
No
51%
39%
Only if cost is not too high Yes
60%
9%
© 2018 PYMNTS.com All Rights Reserved 28
WHO HIRES GIG WORKERS AND HOW ARE THEY PAID?
It may not be surprising that gig workers are mainly employed by businesses. More notable is that nearly half of their clients are consumers or homeowners. This corresponds with the nature of gig work, though, as a homeowner might be interested in having someone landscape his yard but not in hiring a full-time groundskeeper.
FIGURE 25 Which entities hire gig workers? Entities hiring gig workers
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Other
2%
9%
49%
Government Home Owners
60%
25%
Consumers
53%
Businesses
In the case of gig workers working for companies, slightly more than 53 percent believe they were hired instead of a regular employee because contracting a gig worker was more economical. At the same time, 40.8 percent of gig workers believe they were contracted because the companies with which they work have ad hoc projects for which they are uniquely suited.
FIGURE 26 Which entities are hiring gig workers? Employer overlap in the gig economy
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Governments
Consumers
Home OwnersConsumers
Business
Home Owners
Government52% 32% 27%
41% 47% 9%
33% 24% 6%
Buinesses 30% 20% 9%
120%
© 2018 PYMNTS.com All Rights Reserved 29
WHO HIRES GIG WORKERS AND HOW ARE THEY PAID?
While the mainstream workforce tends to stick with a particular class of employer — business, consumer or government, for example — gig workers are less likely to adhere to this. Almost 30 percent who work for businesses also do so for consumers, and 33 percent who work for consumers also work for businesses.
How are gig workers paid? The most common methods are check or cash, with nearly 40 percent reporting being paid with hard currency — a unique and compelling incentive for many gig workers. The second-most common are direct deposit and PayPal, cited by nearly one-third of respondents. Cash kept its crown in terms of preference, however, cited by nearly 72 percent, with direct deposit a close second.
FIGURE 27 How clients pay their gig workers Gig payment methods
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Other
1%
11%
34%
Prepaid Debit or Salary Card
PayPal
60%
32%
Direct Deposit
39%
Cash
40%
Check
Despite a range of novel payment methods available today, cash and direct deposit remain the most popular payment options among gig workers. When asked which method they would prefer as an alternative to how they’re currently paid, a significant portion of respondents indicated they liked traditional payment options. PayPal was also popular, especially among those who currently use direct deposit, and cryptocurrencies like bitcoin were preferred by a small but significant percentage of respondents — beating out digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay.
© 2018 PYMNTS.com All Rights Reserved 30
61%
FIGURE 28 How happy are gig workers with their payment methods? Satisfaction, by payment method
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
70%
Prepaid Debit or Salary Card
PayPal
60%
65%
Direct Deposit
72%
Cash
70%
Check
70%
FIGURE 29 How do gig workers want to be paid? Payment methods workers would like to have, based on their current payment methods
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Check
Cash
PayPal
Prepaid
Other
Direct Deposit
29% 29%
PayPaLDirect deposit cardothercash check cryptocurrencies
14%
mobile wallets transfers
24% 10%10% 17%
26% 6%1% 15%
15% 20%28% 7%
23% 14%16% 25%
16%15% 15%
7%
8%
4%
4%
2%
3%
3%
2%
1% 1%
14%
21%
16%
24%
15%
14%
10%
25%
15%
34%
WHO HIRES GIG WORKERS AND HOW ARE THEY PAID?
© 2018 PYMNTS.com All Rights Reserved 31
Clients tend to have their own payment habits, however. Consumers and homeowners most commonly pay in cash and check, while government agencies and larger businesses use direct deposit and check. These are also the entities most likely to offer prepaid debit or salary cards.
FIGURE 30a Which methods do miscellaneous clients use to pay their gig workers? Payment methods, by employer (other)
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Other
7%
0%
28%
Prepaid Debit Card
PayPal
60%
20%
Direct Deposit
18%
Cash
51%
Check
FIGURE 30b Which methods do government clients use to pay their gig workers? Payment methods, by employer (government entity)
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0% 0%
21%
47%
60%
38%35%
41%
WHO HIRES GIG WORKERS AND HOW ARE THEY PAID?
OtherPrepaid Debit
CardPayPal Direct Deposit Cash Check
© 2018 PYMNTS.com All Rights Reserved 32
FIGURE 30c Which methods do enterprise companies use to pay their gig workers? Payment method, by employer (enterprise companies)
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
2%
19%
45%40%
32%
43%
FIGURE 30d Which methods do businesses use to pay their gig workers? Payment methods, by employer (small businesses — $10M to $50M in annual revenue)
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
1%
17%
43%38%
34%
43%
FIGURE 30e Which methods do businesses use to pay their gig workers? Payment methods, by enterprise (small businesses — less than $10M in annual revenue)
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
1%
13%
37%38% 37%
52%
OtherPrepaid Debit
CardPayPal Direct Deposit Cash Check
OtherPrepaid Debit
CardPayPal Direct Deposit Cash Check
OtherPrepaid Debit
CardPayPal Direct Deposit Cash Check
© 2018 PYMNTS.com All Rights Reserved 33
FIGURE 30f How do businesses owned by larger enterprises pay their gig workers? Payment methods, by employer (small businesses of business enterprises)
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
1%
15%
35%37%
41%45%
FIGURE 30g How do individual homeowners pay their gig workers? Payment methods, by employer (individual homeowner)
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
1%
12%
31%32%
56%
45%
FIGURE 30h How do individual consumers pay their gig workers? Payment methods, by employer (individual consumers)
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
1%
9%
33%37%
47%
41%
OtherPrepaid Debit
CardPayPal Direct Deposit Cash Check
OtherPrepaid Debit
CardPayPal Direct Deposit Cash Check
OtherPrepaid Debit
CardPayPal Direct Deposit Cash Check
© 2018 PYMNTS.com All Rights Reserved 34
A prime motivation for gig workers is extra spending money, so it may come as no surprise that the ability to be paid instantly or the same day is a powerful incentive. Nearly 85 percent of gig workers said they would do more work if they could be paid in this manner.
Attraction to this incentive fades for older workers and those with higher incomes, however. For these, gigs are more often a means to make extra money than to make ends meet.
FIGURE 31 Same-day or instant payment affects gig workers’ willingness to do more work Breakdown: payment speed as a motivator, by age
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
18 - 24
65+
25 - 34
45 - 54
35 - 44
55 - 64
91%
60%
9%
40%
90% 10%
87%
75%
13%
25%
79% 21%
Yes No
WHO HIRES GIG WORKERS AND HOW ARE THEY PAID?
© 2018 PYMNTS.com All Rights Reserved 35
FIGURE 32 Same-day or instant payment impacts gig workers’ willingness to do more work Breakdown: payment speed as a motivator, by income
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
- $25k
+$150k
$25k - $49k
$75k - $99k
$50k - $74k
$100k - $149k
84%
76%
16%
24%
86% 14%
85%
83%
15%
17%
84% 16%
Yes no
The attractiveness of an immediate-pay option correlates with the use of digital marketplaces. Ninety percent of gig workers who said they would do more work if they could be paid faster were paid through such marketplaces.
WHO HIRES GIG WORKERS AND HOW ARE THEY PAID?
© 2018 PYMNTS.com All Rights Reserved 36
DEEP DIVE: THE GIG ECONOMY SKILL SET
In the regular, non-gig economy, there is an integral relationship between the degree of education and training and the kind of work one does. Doctors and scientists spend years in higher education to obtain the knowledge and skills their professions require. On the other hand, not having specialized skills or training often consigns one to lower-paid
work, such as manual labor or food service.
This is less the case in the gig economy, however. While most of those with advanced degrees do work that requires very specific training, and most of those without college degrees do work that does not, 20 percent of gig workers with only high school diplomas (or less) also perform jobs that require specific skills. This would imply that gig jobs may allow people without advanced degrees to vault themselves into more advanced work. Conversely, 26 to 36 percent of those with college and post-graduate degrees do gig work that does not require advanced training.
FIGURE 33 Gig workers’ education and skill levels Skills required for gig jobs vs. formal education
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
55-64
35-44
45-54
somewhat specific
Non-specific
very specific
uncertain
46% 27% 24% 3%
50% 29% 19% 2%
44% 31% 23% 2%
25-3436% 33% 30% 1%
18-2426% 26% 47% 1%
FIGURE 34 Why workers choose gig work Reasons for participating in the gig economy
Very specific Non-specific
60%
40%
30%
50%
20%
10%
0%
1% 2%
Other
1%
Gigs until finding a full-time job
13% 12% 12%
Change type of work
13%10%
12%
Gig economy income is not taxed
via payroll deductions
17%15% 15%
Developing Skills
26%
13%
19%
Saving for a big life event
29%25%
27%
Support a hobby
36%
26%
31%
Pay day-to-day bills
32% 33%31%
Saving for discretionary
purposes
38% 37% 36%
Flexbility
45%41% 42%
Reasons
© 2018 PYMNTS.com All Rights Reserved 37
A worker’s training level relates to his motivations for taking on gig work, according to our findings. One of the starkest differences between skilled and non-skilled workers is in how they regard discretionary spending. While nearly 16 percent of skilled workers cited this an important incentive, less than 2 percent of unskilled workers did the same. Nearly 22 percent of those unskilled workers said paying day-to-day bills was a main reason, however, compared to 18 percent with advanced training.
As previously discussed, gig work has taken root in a distinct set of industries relative to the overall economy. Arts, design, entertainment, sports and media ranks near the bottom for regular employees, with only 1.8 percent working in this area, though it was at the top of the list for both skilled and unskilled gig workers. Burrowing a little deeper, we find that skilled workers are most involved in the creative fields (17 percent), and that sales is most common for lower-skill workers (14 percent).
Workers value certain services over others when it comes to digital marketplaces, and those preferences depend on skill level. The service most valued by moderately and highly skilled workers is the ability to source real-time client leads, while unskilled workers cite getting paid through the marketplace. These differences are understandable: Higher-skilled gig workers often work in creative and professional fields that rely on gaining clients, while lower-skilled workers are more motivated by financial incentives like instant pay.
0% 5% 10% 15%
1%2%
1%
1%1%1%
3%1%
2%
2%2%2%
1%3%2%
3%2%2%
3%3%3%
3%2%3%
2%4%3%
2%6%3%
3%4%4%
4%4%4%
6%2%4%
6%3%5%
6%2%5%
3%8%6%
9%3%6%
5%6%6%
10%6%7%
4%13%7%
14%6%
10%
12%17%14%
20% 25%
FIGURE 35 How a worker’s training affects his motivations for taking on gig work Gig primary job, by skill set
VERY SPECIFIC
Non-specific
GIG WORKERS: PRIMARY GIG JOBS
Construction and extraction
Transportation and material moving
Food preparation and serving
Computer and mathematical
Office and administrative support
Building/grounds cleaning and maintenance
Healthcare support
Management
Installation, maintenance and repair
Business and financial operations
Production
Community and social services
Life, physical and social science
Healthcare practitioners and technical
Farming, fishing and forestry
Legal
Protective services
Architecture and engineering
Personal care and services
Sales and related
Education, training and library
Arts, design, entertainment, sports and media
© 2018 PYMNTS.com All Rights Reserved 38
DEEP DIVE
0% 5% 10% 15%
Customer leads in real time
Leads that have agreed to an accptable price
Customers are ready to purchase
Paid through the marketplace
Provision of healthcare coverage
Marketplace handles taxes via payroll deductions
Opportunity to obtain healthcare coverage
Other benefits6%
10%5%
7%10%6%
6%7%5%
8%11%7%
17%17%20%
20%20%18%
21%17%17%
25%21%18%
20% 25%
FIGURE 36 Why gig workers use non-internet platforms to find gigs Services provided, by gig entities
somewhat specific
very specific
non-specific
A key question in the gig economy is whether employers turn to temporary workers to supplant regular and costlier full-time hires or simply rely on them to meet ad hoc or specialized needs. Here we see a divergence in unskilled versus skilled workers’ perceptions. Fifty-nine percent of non-skilled workers believe they’re brought on in place of regular employees, but 54 percent of highly skilled workers believe they’re hired to handle ad hoc projects not suited for regular employees.
The company hired me instead of a regular employeeThe company’s current employees lack the skills to complete the project Other
FIGURE 37 Why gig workers think they are right for their gig jobs Reasons why gig workers believe they were hired
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Very specific
Non-specific
Somewhat specific
46% 45% 9%
43% 54% 3%
33% 59% 8%
© 2018 PYMNTS.com All Rights Reserved 39
DEEP DIVE
Finally, there are differences in how skilled and unskilled workers are paid. Skilled workers are primarily paid by check, followed by cash and direct deposit. Non-skilled workers, on the other hand, are mainly paid in cash, followed closely by direct deposit and check. One notable finding is how prevalent PayPal is across skill levels: Approximately one-third of all gig workers report being paid through the online service.
Highly skilled workers boast the highest satisfaction with their payment methods, and non-skilled workers are more satisfied than the moderately skilled.
0% 10% 20% 30%
Cash
Check
Prepaid Debit or Salary Card
Direct Deposit
PayPal32%32%33%
36%31%34%
48%40%33%
10%12%10%
41%41%36%
40% 50%
FIGURE 38 Gig workers of different skill levels are paid differently Payment method, by skill level
somewhat specificvery specific non-specific
60%
FIGURE 39 The higher the skill level, the higher the satisfaction rate Satisfaction with payment method
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Non-specific
Somewhat specific
Very specific
36% 31%
36% 22%
46% 29%
Very satisfied extremely satisfied
© 2018 PYMNTS.com All Rights Reserved 40
MARKET POTENTIAL
Gig workers in America are already earning more than $1.4 trillion dollars a year, with 18.4 percent
paid through digital marketplaces and representing $265 billion, by our estimates. This leaves marketplaces with $1.19 trillion worth of potential growth, if all workers switched to digital payment platforms. This is just based on existing conditions, too. If the substantial number of people who are unfamiliar with gig work learned about and embraced the concept, the market could potentially grow by 80 percent or 70 million people. That’s another $219 billion in wages potentially paid through marketplaces.
FIGURE 40 How large can the gig economy grow? Gig economy actual and potential growth
actual Additional potential
$1.6 trillion
$1.2 trillion
$0.8 trillion
$0.4 trillion
$0Gig earnings
1.44
Paid through marketplace
1.19
0.26 0.22
© 2018 PYMNTS.com All Rights Reserved 41
FEATURE STORY:
AND AIM TO EASE GIG WORKERS’ FINANCIAL WOES
In today’s digitally connected global economy, employers don’t need to think local when hiring freelancers. But, thinking local still applies when
paying the freelancers they employ. Gig workers, whether working for an employer in the same country or across the globe, prefer payments in their local currencies and for funds to be quickly deposited into their bank accounts.
Payment frictions are rife in the gig economy, however. They either arise because clients are reluctant to wire funds internationally or because freelancers must endure lengthy waiting periods for payment.
Digital escrow services could alleviate some of these common payment pain points. One gig economy
marketplace is Freelancer.com, which aims to facilitate smoother connections between workers and potential employers and eliminate payment frictions. The company acquired digital escrow service Escrow.com in 2015 to enable more efficient payments between employers and gig workers separated by borders.
To gain a deeper understanding of what current market changes mean for freelancers, PYMNTS recently spoke with Sebastián Siseles, international director of Freelancer.com, and Jackson Elsegood, general manager of Escrow.com, to learn how digital marketplaces and escrow services are fundamentally changing the global freelancing market.
© 2018 PYMNTS.com All Rights Reserved 42
FEATURE STORY
Building stronger cross-border gig connections
Although the availability of connected technology opens up a world of collaboration between freelancers and employers, Siseles noted challenges.
“We are speaking of people [who] don’t meet, don’t see each other [and] they don’t have personal contact,” he said.
Employers often worry they’ll send payments but not receive completed work, while freelancers are afraid they will work but not receive compensation. Language barriers and geographical borders separating the business partners can also raise anxiety levels.
To ease the pains of both parties, Siseles explained how the Freelancer.com platform relies on Escrow.com digital escrow solutions to hold the funds, which are agreed upon by the gig worker and employer, in an escrow account. Freelancer.com uses a milestone payment system, allowing payments to be released to the worker as certain project stages are completed.
The benefit of escrow services is that workers have the guarantee of payment for their services, while employers are guaranteed to not pay unless the freelancer produces the expected work.
“The freelancer will know the money is available and the only thing he needs to do is to work and deliver,” Siseles added.
Workers can have funds deposited into their local bank accounts and in their preferred local currencies. They can also receive their funds using PayPal or have payments disbursed to a debit card, enabling cash to be withdrawn at an ATM.
Uberizing gig worker payments
The availability of tools like digital escrow aims to alleviate the stress of international payments for both employers and gig workers by providing assurance that both sides will get what they agreed upon. Elsegood noted that these services are also raising the bar on freelancers’ expectations for compensation, however. As the market has grown and matured, gig workers have become less content to endure long payment waits or be paid via outdated methods, like paper checks.
“The gig economy back in 2010 might have been, ‘Design a website and I’ll mail you a check. Hopefully, I’ll pay,’” Elsegood said. “That doesn’t fly anymore, the same way a taxi doesn’t live up to the standards that Uber has now set. The expectation of the consumer is that I can order a taxi from my phone, and the expectation of a freelancer is they have absolute certainty they will be paid on a certain date, as quickly as possible.”
Without the certainty of receiving payments, freelancers may feel the need to seek legal recourses to collect the money they are owed from overseas partners, an endeavor that can consume precious time and resources. With the certainty of an escrow payment in place, though, Elsegood said global freelancers are likely to feel more confident in the business partnership.
“A designer might be an amazing logo designer, but they are not lawyers,” he said. “They don’t necessarily know how to write the perfect contract that enforces all of their rights, and they definitely don’t know how to enter into a complicated escrow agreement with a law firm or their banks.”
Siseles noted that demand for these types of digital contracts is likely to grow in parallel to the expanding gig economy.
“The rules have changed for the benefit of both sides,” he said.
© 2017 PYMNTS.com All Rights Reserved
“ The question that
remains is whether
or not it will also lead
to a need for tougher
regulations and, in turn,
tougher penalties.”
METHODOLOGY
The survey contemplates the responses of 10,044 respondents, 65 percent of whom do not work in the gig economy and 35 percent who are now working — or have worked — in the gig economy in the past year. We divided respondents into two
groups: gig workers and non-gig workers. Fifty-two percent of the respondents were women and 48 percent were men.
FIGURE 41 Our sample had slightly more female gig workers than male Breakdown: respondents, by gender
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Female
52%
48%
Male Prefer not to answer
60%
0.4%
FIGURE 42 Which age groups participate most in the gig economy? Breakdown: respondents, by age
30%
20%
10%
0%
18 - 24
10%
21%18%
25 - 34 35 - 44
20%
45 - 54
18%
55 - 64
14%
65+
Just 10 percent of respondents were between 18 and 24 years of age, and nearly 14 percent are over 65. The highest proportion of respondents are between 25 and 34 years old.
Less educated people represent a very low proportion of our respondents. The highest proportion had some college education, and nearly 15 percent held postgraduate degrees.
© 2018 PYMNTS.com All Rights Reserved 44
FIGURE 43 What is the education level of the typical gig worker? Breakdown: respondents, by education levels
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%Less than a high school
degree
2%
21%
30%
High school degree or
GED
Some college
32%
College degree
15%
Postgraduate degree
FIGURE 44 What are the household incomes of our sample workers? Breakdown: respondents, by household income
30%
20%
10%
0%
-$25k
20%24%
14%
$25k - $49k $50k - $74k
25%
$75k - $99k
12%
$100k - $149k
5%
+$150k
Our sample was mainly concentrated among middle to low income households.
To calculate our potential market estimates, we first obtained the proportions of gig workers, non-gig workers, full-time, part-time and not working people from the survey. We applied U.S. Census total population aged over 18 data to estimate the number of full-time, part-time and not working persons, and also those who were gig workers versus non-gig workers.
We then looked into wages-per-week data and estimated average annual earnings for all job categories, obtaining total annual earnings per category.
We deduced from the survey that gig workers earn 37.6 pecent of their total earnings through the gig economy, on average, finding this value by the mid-points methodology. For gig workers, we obtained the value of their gig economy earnings by dividing total economy earnings by total participants, resulting in $17,000 per year. As 43.5 percent of non-gig workers would like to participate, we multiplied this number by the estimation of total non-gig workers and obtained 70,035 people who would potentially participate in the gig economy — $1,190,568 in potential additional earnings.
Survey data indicates 18.4 percent of gigs are paid through marketplaces. As such, $971,858,000 of the potential earnings are potential gig earnings not paid through the marketplace, leaving $218,710,000 to potentially be paid through them.
© 2018 PYMNTS.com All Rights Reserved 45
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Feedback
We are interested in your feedback on this report and where we take it over time. Please send your thoughts, comments or questions at [email protected].
© 2018 PYMNTS.com All Rights Reserved 46
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