gig economy

A labour market characterised by short-term, flexible, freelance, or contract work rather than permanent full-time employment — often mediated by digital platforms like Uber, Deliveroo, or Upwork.

• gigworker (n) 零工工作者

• gig economy workers
• gig economy platform
• rise of the gig economy
• gig economy regulation
• gig economy and benefits

1. 1.The gig economy promises flexibility ("be your own boss") but often delivers precarity — gig workers typically lack health insurance, retirement benefits, sick pay, or job security. (labour market structure)
2. 2.Whether gig workers are independent contractors or employees is a legal battle playing out worldwide, with billions of dollars in benefits and taxes hanging on the classification. (legal controversy)

• freelance economy (economy based on freelance work)
• platform economy (economic activity mediated by digital platforms)
• on-demand economy (work available on demand)

"gig" from jazz slang (a musical engagement, 1920s) + "economy" from Greek "oikonomia" (household management) — an economy of one-off engagements