U.S. gig workers take more jobs as costs rise, Zety finds
GUAYNABO, PUERTO RICO — A new survey from career platform Zety reports that 88% of U.S. gig workers have taken on more jobs in 2025 to keep up with inflation and rising living expenses, underscoring mounting financial strain across on-demand labor markets.
The “2025 State of Gig Work Report,” based on responses from 903 gig workers in June, also found that 55% rely on gig work for more than half of their income, signaling deep dependence on flexible but volatile earnings streams.
Zety published the findings on August 21, noting the results reflect current gig economy conditions amid persistent cost pressures.
Gig workers cite lack of benefits and job instability
Nearly half of respondents—47%—identified the lack of benefits such as health insurance and retirement plans as their top concern, with 24% saying they can’t always cover basic living expenses, according to Zety.
Platform risk is pronounced: 91% reported being deactivated, penalized, or shadowbanned without explanation, and 95% said they “game” platform systems to secure better pay or more jobs, highlighting the role of opaque algorithms in access to work and earnings.
Burnout is a growing hazard, with 33% citing physical or mental exhaustion as a major concern in their current arrangements, Zety’s data show.
Workers report algorithm bias and system gaming
The report includes stark takeaways about power dynamics and transparency on major platforms: “Unclear penalties and algorithm-driven job access create a major power imbalance between platforms and workers.”
Zety adds that “most feel forced to game the system,” pointing to systemic behaviors—57% frequently, 38% occasionally, and just 5% never—that workers adopt to maintain volume and pay in competitive marketplaces.
Behind the statistics, the report argues, are workers seeking stability and protections in systems that increasingly reward “algorithmic luck” over effort.
How Zety surveyed American gig workers
Zety’s survey, fielded June 19, 2025, used a nationally representative sample of 903 active gig workers and a mix of yes/no, scale-based, and multiple-choice questions to assess earnings reliance, platform experiences, benefits access, and well-being.
The company summarized the moment succinctly: “As inflation squeezes budgets, gig workers across the U.S. are hustling harder than ever,” framing the surge in workloads as a direct response to price pressures rather than preference alone.
The findings were also amplified by coverage and social posts that echoed the topline numbers on workload, benefits, platform penalties, and algorithm gaming, reinforcing Zety’s core conclusions for 2025.
