Gig work, also called non-standard work, consists of income-generating activities outside of traditional, long-term, direct-hire employment.
This catch-all definition does not paint a clear picture of what gig work is, though, only what it is not. Before diving into any numbers, we need to consider different definitions of the gig economy, and how they lead to different estimates of its size.
Approaches to defining gig work
Some definitions are based on the work arrangement: the contract or relationship between workers and the individual or company who pays them. Standard workers have a long-term employer-employee relationship in which they are paid by the hour or year, earning a wage or salary. They are also covered by employment protections, like minimum wage and anti-discrimination protections. There are many other types of work arrangements, though. Work might be temporary or project-based, with workers hired to complete a particular task or for a certain period of time. Work may be subcontracted, meaning workers are hired and paid by one company, but told to show up for work at a different one. Rather than being hired as employees, some workers are hired as contractors, meaning they should have control over their working conditions, but lack employment protections. All of these work arrangements are examples of non-standard work, one understanding of the "gig economy."
Other definitions of non-standard or gig work focus specifically on the employment classification of workers: whether they are employees or independent contractors. Employees receive W-2 forms from their employers, who are obligated to provide them certain benefits, to deduct payroll taxes, to pay a minimum wage, and adhere to anti-discrimination laws. Independent contractors, by contrast, receive 1099 forms when they perform services for a company without being a direct employee. Payroll taxes are not deducted, and neither party is covered by the same rules and regulations that apply to traditional employees. Definitions of gig work based on classification are narrower than those based on work arrangement.
Finally, some definitions are based on specific work characteristics. These definitions look at particular characteristics of work, such as scheduling, flexibility, or if the work is arranged on an app or platform.
These different approaches to defining non-standard and gig work overlap. A rideshare driver classified as independent contractor would be considered a gig workers under any definition. However, lots of types of work would be included in some definitions but not others, including temp agency workers, freelance artists, and people who finds W-2 employment through an app. That's how different definitions lead to different estimates of the gig workforce.