Gallup Says 36% Of U.S. Workers are in the Gig Economy

Last week Gallup released the results of their Gig Economy and Alternative Work Arrangements study. 

Gallup found that 36% of U.S. workers are gig workers. Key quote from their report:

"Gallup estimates that 29% of all workers in the U.S. have an alternative work arrangement as their primary job. This includes a quarter of all full-time workers (24%) and half of all part-time workers (49%). Including multiple job holders, 36% have a gig work arrangement in some capacity."

This works out to about 57 million Americans. 

Gallup has a broad definition of gig work. Again from their report:

 ...the gig economy includes multiple types of alternative work arrangements such as independent contractors, online platform workers, contract firm workers, on-call workers and temporary workers.

Gallup's report theme is "a tale of two gig economies". By this they mean the gig economy is comprised of two broad types of gig workers.

"independent gig workers" are gig workers who have work autonomy and control. The second group, "contingent gig workers", don't. 

Gallup says "independent gig workers" include independent contractors and online platform workers. This group, according to Gallup, "can truly be their own boss and enjoy the often-touted benefits of gig work more frequently -- flexibility and freedom."

"Contingent gig workers" are not as fortunate. They "experience their workplace like regular employees do, just without the benefits of a traditional job -- benefits, pay and security."

The Gallup chart below (click to enlarge) shows these how these two groups responded to a series of job and career related survey questions compared to traditional job holders. 

The clear winners are independent gig workers. They score much higher than both contingent gig workers and traditional job holders across almost all job metrics.

But even contingent workers, with a few exceptions, score slightly higher than those with traditional jobs.

These findings echo the findings of the MBO Partners State of Independence studies, which has been reporting on the strong differences between empowered independents - those with work autonomy and control - and reluctant independents - those that don't have work autonomy and control - since 2012. 

The Gallup report is one of the best we've seen at comparing the work related attitudes of gig workers and traditional job holders. It's well worth reading for anyone interested in the gig economy or the future of work.