gig economy

noun

: economic activity that involves the use of temporary or freelance workers to perform jobs typically in the service sector

One reason the gig economy has taken off: People tend to change jobs more frequently and many enjoy the flexibility of choosing when and where they work.

—Marcia Pledger

While they are still able to work, boomers will be a big part of a subset of the sharing economy that is sometimes called the "gig economy." Gigs are what they sound like: assignments, contracts or part-time jobs.

—Linda Nazareth

Examples of gig economy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Or, for that matter, traditional employees and not independent contractors in the growing gig economy. —Steve Rosenthal, Forbes, 20 Sep. 2024

Just a typical day for a cosmonaut in the interstellar gig economy. —Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 7 Sep. 2024

And with the gig economy reshaping the workforce, the traditional medical practice’s hours are inconvenient for many workers. —Karen E. Knudsen, Scientific American, 12 Aug. 2024

The California Supreme Court on Thursday upheld Proposition 22, the voter initiative that allows Uber, Lyft and other gig economy companies to classify drivers for their ride-hailing and delivery services as independent contractors rather than as employees. —Suhauna Hussain, Los Angeles Times, 25 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

gig entry 1

First Known Use

2009, in the meaning defined above