By Mina Haq
Jessica Milli, who has studied the gig economy for the non-profit Institute for Women’s Policy Research, says it’s often the flexibility aspect that draws women to these jobs.
They are “frustrated with the formal labor market because they don’t have the flexibility they need to take care of their families,” she said.
Of the quarter of respondents who left their full-time jobs for gig work, 32% did so for more flexibility and less stress, while 28% needed more time to care for a child, parent or relative, the report said. Seventy percent of female gig workers are the primary caregivers in their homes, according to the report.
Overall, women generally have a positive view of gig work, the report found. An overwhelming 90% of those surveyed said they would recommend gig work to a female friend. That’s not to say there are no concerns. More than half said said they would not wish their children to choose a career in gig work.
And despite the technological advances that are making digital gig work platforms widely accessible, other worries such as discrimination remain. The report found that 33% of gig workers have done gig work under a username that doesn’t reveal their gender.
