Approximately 59 million Americans currently participate in the gig economy. For most, this is a part-time way to make money, but 17 million people derive all of their income from a variety of contracted opportunities. Gig workers are found in various industries, including transportation (for example, Uber, DoorDash, and InstaCart), freelancing (for example, Upwork), e-commerce (eBay and Etsy), and more traditional contract work such as architects, project managers, construction workers, and lawyers. There are more gig workers in construction (carpenters, electricians, plumbers, installers) than in any other industry. The trend toward gig work is growing as more Americans seek the flexibility and rewards that come with it. An expected 86 million people will be in the gig workforce by 2027.

White, J., Hyman, D. A., & Bai, G. (2024). Reforming HSAs To Expand Gig Workers’ Access To Affordable Health Care. Health Affairs Forefront.