Working in the gig economy

5 types of gig economy workers

To supplement its online survey, Insight spoke to 50 food delivery riders and ride-hailing drivers to understand their socio-economic profile and why they joined the gig economy. The interviews, conducted in Bedok, Choa Chu Kang, Jurong East, Tampines and Yishun over two days, found that these workers fall into five common groups. Half are doing such jobs as an interim measure after leaving or losing their former jobs, or to earn extra cash, while a fifth are individuals from vulnerable backgrounds, such as single mothers and former offenders. A similar proportion are sole breadwinners. Four in 10 are not able to set aside savings from their monthly income, while half of the 35 full-time workers interviewed say they are earning less from their gig jobs than in their previous jobs.

Being a GrabFood delivery rider lets Madam Afidah Amat structure work around ferrying her children to and from school.
Being a GrabFood delivery rider lets Madam Afidah Amat structure work around ferrying her children to and from school. ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN
For food delivery rider Zane Chiang, what started as an interim job has ended up being a full-time job for the last three years.
For food delivery rider Zane Chiang, what started as an interim job has ended up being a full-time job for the last three years. ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR
New: Gift this subscriber-only story to your friends and family

He has a diploma in hotel management and worked as a hotel concierge for three years before deciding to quit to deliver food for Foodpanda and Deliveroo instead.

Prior to working as a hotel concierge, he was a regular serviceman in the army for a decade.

Already a subscriber? 

Read the full story and more at $9.90/month

Get exclusive reports and insights with more than 500 subscriber-only articles every month

Unlock these benefits

  • All subscriber-only content on ST app and straitstimes.com

  • Easy access any time via ST app on 1 mobile device

  • E-paper with 2-week archive so you won't miss out on content that matters to you

Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.

A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on November 17, 2019, with the headline 5 types of gig economy workers. Subscribe