gig worker

noun

plural gig workers

: a person who works temporary jobs typically in the service sector as an independent contractor or freelancer : a worker in the gig economy

Gig workers have freedoms that most full-timers only dream of: setting their own hours, working from home, being their own bosses. No wonder the gig economy comprised 16 percent of all workers by 2015, according to research by economists Lawrence Katz and Alan Krueger.

—Andy Sullivan

In addition to having more stable space, the affluent often have greater latitude to remain inside it. They can work on Zoom, shop on Amazon and have gig workers deliver meals.

—Jason DeParle

Examples of gig worker in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

He’s pushed for millions of gig workers to qualify as employees, rather than independent contractors, which can grant them more benefits and protections such as overtime pay and unemployment insurance. —Rachel Siegel, Washington Post, 27 June 2024

Of course, one counterpoint to that argument is that these days, a lot of people in the economy are freelancers and gig workers whose entire income is dependent on performing just one task, often for multiple clients or customers. —Will Daniel, Fortune, 25 June 2024

That’s an important distinction today, with the US food delivery market having doubled during the pandemic and gig workers facing uncertainty over coverage. —Mark Dent, thehustle.co, 19 Apr. 2024

Legislators heard from gig workers who spoke of their time as independent contractors being monitored and controlled by their employer, and problems with the state’s unemployment system from providing them timely payments. —Anthony Hennen | The Center Square, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 12 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

2009, in the meaning defined above