Uber was founded more than 15 years ago. Since then, rideshare and delivery apps have become an established part of life for millions–but we still don’t have consistent data on how many people work in the gig economy. Different data sources use different definitions and ask different questions, leading to a lot of confusion.
The Gig Economy Data Hub exists to address this problem. We compile existing sources of data on gig and nonstandard work, compare definitions and methods, and provide accessible, comprehensive information for anyone interested in the gig economy.
The Data Hub was created in 2017 by the Aspen Institute Future of Work Initiative in partnership with Cornell University’s ILR School, with support from the Rockefeller Foundation and Google.org. The Future of Work Initiative is a part of the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program, which advances strategies, policies, and ideas to help low- and moderate-income people thrive in a changing economy. The Economic Opportunities Program’s publications and events contain a wealth of information on how to make all jobs, including gig jobs, into good jobs. Cornell’s ILR School is the leading college of the applied social sciences focusing on work, employment, and labor policy issues and practices of national and international significance.
In 2025, the Data Hub was updated and relaunched by The Workers Lab in partnership with the SNF Agora Institute of Johns Hopkins University. The Workers Lab is the nation’s home for worker-centered innovation. Through worker-centered investment, technology development, and participatory research, we envision a world where all workers are safe, healthy, secure, and have power. The SNF Agora Institute is devoted to strengthening global democracy through powerful civic engagement and informed, inclusive dialogue.