Pew Poll: A Majority Of Gig Workers Spend Less Than 10 Hours A Week Performing App-Based Work

January 4, 2022

94% of Americans think app-based work is a positive way to earn on a flexible schedule.

In case you missed it, The Pew Research Center released its 2021 report on the state of gig work, finding that an overwhelming majority of U.S. adults think app-based work is a good way to earn a flexible income, a majority of app-based workers have used it as a side job, and more.

Key Findings

94% of U.S. Adults Think App-Based Work is a Positive Way to Earn on a Flexible Schedule

94% of US adults believe platform jobs are a generally good way to earn money as a side job or have the ability to work a flexible schedule.
80% think it’s a great way for people to be their own boss.

A Majority of Gig Workers Spend Less than 10 Hours a Week Performing App-Based Work

A majority of Americans who’ve earned money through an app-based platform over the past year say they either spent less than 10 hours in a typical week performing these tasks or don’t do these jobs most weeks.
Among current or recent gig workers, more say the work is something they do on the side rather than their primary way of earning a living. And relatively few people who have taken on this work over the past year report putting in more than 30 hours during a typical week.

Gig Workers Are Motivated by Flexibility and the Ease of Access to Additional Earnings

“Wanting to save up extra money” (56%) is the top motivating factor in choosing to do app-based work, with “covering fluctuations in income” (52%) coming in as a close second.
“Being able to control my own schedule” is a major reason for 49% of gig workers when asked why they have chosen app-based work over the past 12 months.

Nearly 70% Say App-Based Work Is a Side Gig, Often Earning from Multiple Platforms

68% of gig workers say that app-based work has been a side job over the last year, and 39% say they have earned money in two or more ways.

6 in 10 Found the Earnings to Be Critical During the COVID Economic Downturn

Among current or recent gig workers, roughly six-in-ten say the money they earned through these platforms over the past 12 months has been essential (23%) or important (35%) for meeting their basic needs.

Who Is Earning?

16% of Americans (41M) have ever earned via a gig platform. Currently, 4% of Americans (10M) are doing this work.
5% of Americans (13M) have ever driven for ride-hailing, 2% (5.2M) report having done so in the last 12 months.
30% of Americans in the 18-29 age group have worked on a platform.
30% of Hispanic adults, 20% of black adults, 19% of Asian adults, and 12% of white adults have done this work.

Protecting independence and access to work opportunities is critically important. At the App-Based Work Alliance, we will continue to support policies that preserve the flexibility and independence that app-based workers say they value.