Gig economy

The term "gig" comes from the slang term for individual appearances by performing artists like musicians and comedians. Instead of being paid a regular salary, gig workers are paid for individual gigs performed. While the definition varies, the gig economy is mainly defined as a labor market with short-term, flexible work arrangements, primarily through digital platforms that connect service providers with customers for different types of tasks or jobs, rather than traditional long-term employment. Gig workers are typically classified as independent contractors, without the benefits or job security associated with standard employment. Corporate entities employ the services of the workers for short-term commitments for temporary work assignments. They are often able provide a different type of service or product because the gig business model does not burden them with costs such as sick leave and health insurance benefits as well as office space, equipment and training. Sometimes this enables them to hire expertise that they could not otherwise afford. Workers often enjoy greater flexibility in terms of scheduling control and work-life balance. == Description ==

In the design industry, gig workers are increasingly seeking legal protections around intellectual property (IP) and contract terms. Freelancers often face challenges with clients claiming ownership over creative work without proper compensation or acknowledgment. A 2022 survey conducted by Freelancers Union in partnership with the Authors Guild and other organizations found that 62% of freelancers in New York had experienced wage theft at least once in their careers, with 53% reporting losses of up to $10,000 from nonpayment. Legal developments like California's AB5 law continue to influence the gig economy, aiming to reclassify some design freelancers as employees, ensuring legal protections like minimum wage and benefits. Among the common types of digital platforms in the gig economy are those to provide ridesharing services, food or package delivery services, crafts and handmade item marketplaces, on-demand labor and repair services, property and space rentals. A study completed in 2016 by Lawrence Katz and Alan Krueger showed an increase in gig workers, freelancers, and independent contractors of 50 percent between 2005 and 2015. These jobs accounted for 94 percent of all employment growth in the United States during those ten years. As of 2021, 16% of all adults in the United States had earned income through the gig economy with higher levels of gig economy experience having accrued to younger demographics, according to the Pew Research Center. As of 2017, 55 million Americans contributed services to the gig economy. The size of the gig economy depends on how one defines it and whose statistics one uses. The Bureau of Labor Statistics uses the term "electronically mediated work" to represent "short jobs or tasks that workers find through websites or mobile apps that both connect them with customers and arrange payment for the tasks." A work published in September 2018 determined that such work accounted for 1.0 percent of total employment in May 2017. At about the same time the Government Accountability Office stated that the definition and the data source variations support claims from below 5% to over one-third of the labor force engage in non-traditional employment. According to a 2021 Forbes article the gig economy was a $1 trillion sector of the United States economy. Regardless of the definition used, the gig economy is growing. CNBC reported that during the 2010s, the gig economy grew by 15%. Forbes describes the growth as "slow and steady". Other leading companies include Lyft, OnlyFans (content-subscription service), DoorDash, and Instacart. == Demographics ==

United States 16% of adults in the United States say that they have done any type of gig work. Hispanic Americans are the largest group in the gig economy with around 30% of Hispanics saying they have done some type of gig work. Black Americans are 20%, Asian Americans 19%, and White Americans are 12%. ==See also==