The gig economy has come under scrutiny in the last couple of years. Critics have raised concerns as to whether enough hours are available for gig workers to earn living wages -- let alone the high wages many of the new technology-enabled marketplaces claim to offer. After factoring in financial responsibilities like maintenance, supplies, insurance, tax withholdings, liability coverage, on-the-job injuries and illnesses, the question gets even more heated.
But it’s dangerous to make broad generalizations about the gig economy, which includes jobs as varied as courier, handyman, lawyer, interior designer and more. Even within one position, the variety of hours worked makes it difficult to paint gig economy employees with a single brush.
In many ways, the gig economy is still a strong and completely valid method for workers to obtain a living wage.