What is the Gig Economy?
When it comes to to attracting top candidates, companies have to offer more than just free coffee—job-seekers are prizing flexibility, autonomy, and the freedom to be their own boss.
The term ‘gig economy’ may seem like a shiny new product of the post-lockdown world, but it was actually coined in 2009 by editor Tina Brown whose gig economy definition was “part-time bits and pieces transacted in a digital marketplace.”
Essentially, the term predicted the rise of the digital nomad well before its’ time, but, as many recruiting teams in 2025 would agree, that time is well and truly here—the gig economy was worth $556.7 billion last year.
What is a gig worker?
A gig worker is simply someone who works in the gig economy, not tied down to any one job, place, or long-term project. Gig workers are often (though not always) self-employed.
What is an example of a gig economy job?
Here are a few gig economy examples across common categories:
• Asset sharing: People who share their assets to generate income such as renting their home or vehicles short-term. This includes services like Airbnb and Turo.
• Delivery and transport: This includes couriers like Uber Eats and Menulog or drivers like Uber and DiDi.
• Specialist services: Closer to the traditional freelancer economy, this includes gig workers who offer things like coding, writing, and other business services on an as-and-when basis.
• Crafts and handiwork: A common sort of ‘side hustle’ this type of work lets people trade their skills or hobbies by selling their services, for example, being a handyperson through TaskRabbit, or selling hand-made items through Etsy.
Whichever category a gig worker falls under, the unifying theme of any and all jobs in the gig economy is the lack of permanence and an increased sense of independence.
What is the difference between a gig worker and a freelancer?
While it’s easy to equate a gig worker to a freelancer, there are some key differences. For one, a gig worker, is generally employed on a short-term basis. They can be employed by people or businesses on a very ad-hoc and casual basis. Freelancers, though, are a more established role in businesses and are often embedded into projects and processes.
For example, a freelance social media expert might be hired to establish and execute a content calendar for a brand, and it wouldn’t be uncommon for this to take six months to a year. A gig worker, on the other hand, might be hired only to draft up the calendar in a matter of weeks for another team member to eventually carry out.
As mentioned above, there also isn’t always an expectation of specialist knowledge or corporate services with the gig economy, offering a much lower barrier to entry. Freelancers generally still operate in the corporate space and will often have a certain level of knowledge in a business area (coding, admin, PA etc.) in order to attract clients.
What are the pros and cons of the gig economy?
The gig economy has plenty of pros and cons for companies and candidates alike, and whether you’re a business seeking new talent or an individual looking to break into the gig working way of life, there’s a lot to consider.
Advantages of jobs in the gig economy:
• Ultimate flexibility: For both businesses and candidates, gig working offers maximum flexibility with no long-term commitment. Gigs can be created as and when business needs arise, and candidates can take them based on their availability between other jobs or obligations.
• Cost-effective for businesses: No need to consider desk space and long-term requirements like with a permanent employee, gig workers can help businesses cut back on their overheads.
• New income streams for individuals: Gig work can be carried out alongside other work, for example, even a full-time permanent employee can still make money on Airbnb or by selling their handicrafts on Etsy, adding a whole new stream of revenue to their income.
• Independence: It goes without saying that gig workers can enjoy great independence, working remotely or only at times that suits them.
• Direct hiring: The gig economy does away with traditional recruiting, which means no middleman. This means a quicker, more personalised, and direct hiring experience for everyone.
Disadvantages of the gig economy:
• Lack of security and benefits for workers: This is a common issue among gig workers who, if issues arise, have far fewer rights than permanently employed workers. This means gig workers are often left without the essential perks of healthcare, pension, and general legal protections when it comes to issues with pay. It also can be a slippery slope for issues such as diversity and equality in hiring and pay.
• Lack of commitment: Flexibility may be a huge advantage of gig work, but on the other hand, it also means there is a lack of commitment on both sides. A company has no obligation to foster the development and progress of a gig worker, and similarly, a gig worker isn’t required to establish lasting relationships with clients or colleagues which may impact collaboration.
How LinkedIn connects you to gig workers
Online networking is the beating heart of the gig economy, and that’s where LinkedIn Recruiter comes in. We have the perfect platform that gives you access to a global talent pool. We make it easy to search and filter according to your project needs, so you find the perfect match.