How Big is the Gig? The Extensive Margin, The Intensive Margin, and The Hidden Margin

B-Tier
Journal: Labour Economics
Year: 2021
Volume: 69
Issue: C

Score contribution per author:

1.005 = (α=2.01 / 2 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

This paper presents survey measures of informal "gig" work in the United States along both the extensive and intensive margins. Focusing on labor-intensive activities, the total amount of gig work performed by U.S. household heads in 2015 was equivalent to 3.77 million full-time jobs, of which 20 percent came from online work. We also find that this nonstandard work is partly hidden: over 15 percent of non-retired gig workers would get classified as not in the labor force, 5 percent would get classified as unemployed, and the full-time employment rate would increase significantly if informal hours are fully counted.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:eee:labeco:v:69:y:2021:i:c:s0927537121000099
Journal Field
Labor
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-25