As income levels and spending power rise, the gig economy has redefined access to work opportunity and income flow.
Flexible work, or ‘gigs,’ across multiple sectors is fueling job growth demand, particularly across Asia.
The gig economy is a labour system that is defined by temporary, flexible, and often short-term work arrangements for independent contractors or freelancers, rather than full-time permanent employment.
At its core, it’s about individual “gigs” or tasks completed on demand, often facilitated by digital platforms that connect workers with clients or consumers.
Gig economy is said to be more inclusive, offering flexible, digital work to people with disabilities, caregivers, and those without degrees, expanding access to income for many.
This model offers workers significant flexibility and autonomy in choosing when and how much they work, while enabling businesses to scale their workforce efficiently.
The World Bank estimates that gig work now constitutes approximately 12% of the global labour market, with a significant portion of this demand emanating from China, India, and Indonesia.
China leads Asia’s gig economy with over 200 million gig workers, about 25% of its workforce, engaged in sectors like ride-hailing, food delivery, e-commerce, and tutoring.
India follows closely, with gig workers rising from 7.7 million in 2020–21 to a projected 23.5 million by 2029–30, making up around 4% of its workforce and positioning it as the second-largest gig economy in the Asia-Pacific.
Indonesia’s gig workforce is estimated between 0.43 and 2.3 million, primarily across ride-hailing, delivery, and freelance services.
The rise of gig work across Asia is fundamentally reshaping traditional labour markets, driven by digital platforms that offer flexible job opportunities.
Sectors such as ride-hailing (Didi in China, Ola and Uber in India), food delivery (Meituan, Swiggy, Zomato), e-commerce logistics, and online freelancing are steadily eroding the dominance of conventional employment models.
Freelancing and online services are booming, especially in India, which accounted for nearly 40% of the world’s digital freelancers in 2024.
The freelance workforce in the country is expected to grow from 7.7 million in 2020 to 23.5 million by 2030.
At the same time, gig platforms are expanding into new areas like housekeeping, tutoring, and personal assistance, widening the range of services offered. Popular freelance roles include IT development, graphic design, marketing, and business consulting.
Some of the ‘gig’ platforms utilise algorithmic management, automated dispatch, dynamic pricing, and user ratings, to increase operational efficiency.
The gig economy has absorbed millions of workers displaced from traditional sectors, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In India, gig work has emerged as a viable alternative for migrants, young people, or unemployed youth.
However, the gig economy also centralizes control, offers zero job security and ancillary benefits (paid leave, health insurance etc) for workers.
Despite the growth, gig work has deepened existing gender and socio-economic disparities too.
Women remain underrepresented in gig workforce, and those who do participate, such as female delivery workers, are alleged to earn only about 68% of what their male counterparts make.
Algorithm-driven scheduling and safety concerns often deter women from entering or remaining in these roles, further widening the gender gap.
Governments are beginning to respond, introducing social security codes, welfare boards, and financial subsidies. Platforms are experimenting with rest zones, insurance coverage, and training programs. But these steps, while promising, are just the beginning.
This shift has prompted various legal and regulatory responses across the region. In China, the government has mandated that gig platforms offer social insurance, ensure minimum wages, and guarantee rest periods.
Companies like Meituan, Ele.me, and JD have started providing injury insurance, pensions, and maternity coverage to comply with these directives.
India has taken significant steps by enacting the 2020 Social Security Code, which legally recognizes gig workers as ‘platform workers’, granting them access to insurance, pensions, and other welfare schemes.
At the state level, Karnataka has launched a welfare cess aimed at supporting 30,000 gig workers, Rajasthan has formed a dedicated welfare board, and Tamil Nadu offers a ₹20,000 e-scooter subsidy for registered gig workers.
The Indian Federation of App-based Transport Workers (IFAT) now represents over 156,000 drivers, advocating for better rights and protections
Singapore, though with a smaller gig workforce, has implemented a pilot program that allows gig workers to contribute a portion of their freelance earnings to MediSave, the country’s national health savings account.
Together, these developments highlight how gig workers are not only transforming Asia’s labour markets but also forcing a regulatory rethink around digital employment, social protections, and inclusive growth.
Global e-commerce leaders like Amazon, Alibaba, and Flipkart rely heavily on gig workers for last-mile delivery, integrating gig labour into worldwide supply chains.
With more than 250 million gig workers across China, India, Indonesia, and beyond, the gig economy is no longer a fringe trend—it’s a central pillar of Asia’s labor future.
