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

The rideshare apps In some respects, Mexico leads the world in commitment to protecting gig workers like Rojas. —Ladan Anoushfar, CNN Money, 23 Sep. 2025

New Tax Provisions The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) changed several controversial reporting requirements for gig workers and those who use payment apps like PayPal for business. —Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025

These gig workers need to fulfill orders stat to make these trips pay off. —Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 18 Sep. 2025

But given both the film’s protagonist (gig worker Eyüp, played by the director) and title character (Eyüp’s greedy boss) are participants in the dance, this Turkish writer can’t help but see it as a biting social statement. —Tomris Laffly, Variety, 16 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

2009, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for gig worker

• caseworker
• coworker
• farmworker
• woodworker