American Trends Panel
What is it measuring?
The number of people engaged in work mediated by an online gig platform, along with their motivations for pursuing that work, working conditions, and demographics. The definition of online work includes driving for ride-hailing apps, delivering from restaurants or stores for a delivery app, using personal vehicles to deliver packages, and other similar activities. The survey also asked about opinions on platform regulation and worker classification.
What does it tell us?
The survey estimates that 16 percent of Americans have ever earned income via online gig platforms. Four percent reported currently earning income on these platforms. People under the age of 30, Hispanic adults, and adults with lower incomes were more likely to report participating in gig platform work.
An earlier Pew survey, fielded in 2016, which had a broader definition of gig work, found that 24 percent of adults had earned money through gig work in the past year. This survey included any work completed or arranged online, which included filling out online surveys or selling goods through online classifieds.
How is it collected?
Through the Pew American Trends Panel, an online survey panel recruited through a national random sampling of residential addresses. Out of 11,178 panelists sampled, 10,348 responded, yielding a response rate of 93% among selected panelists. Responses were weighted using nationally representative public surveys. The survey was administered between Aug. 23-29, 2021.
Who collects it?
Pew Research Center, a nonpartisan think tank that examines social issues, public opinion, and demographic trends.
Considerations
In this survey, Pew Research Center focused specifically on in-person work that had been arranged via an app or platform. The survey used a particularly broad time frame, asking respondents if they had ever used online platforms. Adults who have participated in this type of work at least once over the past 12 months are considered "current" or "recent" gig platform workers. The survey also included a very broad "something else" category.
How to access this data?
Publicly available from Pew Research Center as part of the American Trends Panel Wave 94. Pew Research Center account required.
Reports
The State of Gig Work in 2021; 2021; ; Pew Research Center;
Gig Work, Online Selling and Home Sharing; 2016; ; Pew Research Center;