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
Marcia PledgerWhile 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
Linda Nazareth
Examples of gig economy in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The gig economy is booming and the concept of starting a side hustle lures many.
—Melissa Houston, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2024
Matthew Horwood/Getty Images Platform workers can no longer be fired automatically by algorithms, according to new European Union rules agreed today in a sweeping reform of the gig economy that will affect Uber drivers and Deliveroo couriers.
—Morgan Meaker, WIRED, 13 Dec. 2023
In 2020, California passed Proposition 22, which was backed by more than $200 million from the most influential gig economy companies.
—Jordan Valinsky, CNN, 15 Mar. 2024
The new rule has been anticipated by labor advocates but received pushback from gig economy employers such as Uber and Lyft.
—Christopher Hutton, Washington Examiner, 9 Jan. 2024
The Fed’s two primary goals when setting monetary policy are price stability and maximum stable employment, and a lack of reliable information on the gig economy labor force may be handicapping the central bank, said Groshen, who was a member of the Federal Reserve System for 27 years.
—Samantha Delouya, CNN, 24 July 2023
There’s no love lost for the gig economy as a whole, which seems to exist solely to humiliate folks already below a rock-bottom financial status.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 1 Mar. 2024
Ever since the boom of the side hustle, freelancing, or gig economy within recent years since the pandemic, holding down an alternative or secondary source of supplementary income has become the norm.
—Rachel Wells, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development has published model reporting rules for the rapidly growing gig economy where users make money from digital platforms selling goods such as secondhand fashion, or services such as car rides.
—Joshua Kirby, WSJ, 5 Jan. 2024
Melissa Houston, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2024
Matthew Horwood/Getty Images Platform workers can no longer be fired automatically by algorithms, according to new European Union rules agreed today in a sweeping reform of the gig economy that will affect Uber drivers and Deliveroo couriers.
—Morgan Meaker, WIRED, 13 Dec. 2023
In 2020, California passed Proposition 22, which was backed by more than $200 million from the most influential gig economy companies.
—Jordan Valinsky, CNN, 15 Mar. 2024
The new rule has been anticipated by labor advocates but received pushback from gig economy employers such as Uber and Lyft.
—Christopher Hutton, Washington Examiner, 9 Jan. 2024
The Fed’s two primary goals when setting monetary policy are price stability and maximum stable employment, and a lack of reliable information on the gig economy labor force may be handicapping the central bank, said Groshen, who was a member of the Federal Reserve System for 27 years.
—Samantha Delouya, CNN, 24 July 2023
There’s no love lost for the gig economy as a whole, which seems to exist solely to humiliate folks already below a rock-bottom financial status.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 1 Mar. 2024
Ever since the boom of the side hustle, freelancing, or gig economy within recent years since the pandemic, holding down an alternative or secondary source of supplementary income has become the norm.
—Rachel Wells, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development has published model reporting rules for the rapidly growing gig economy where users make money from digital platforms selling goods such as secondhand fashion, or services such as car rides.
—Joshua Kirby, WSJ, 5 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'gig economy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
First Known Use
2009, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near gig economy
Cite this Entry
“Gig economy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gig%20economy. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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