gig economy: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Formal, journalistic, business, academic
Quick answer
What does “gig economy” mean?
A labour market characterised by short-term contracts or freelance work, as opposed to permanent jobs.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A labour market characterised by short-term contracts or freelance work, as opposed to permanent jobs.
The economic environment in which temporary, flexible jobs are commonplace and companies tend to hire independent contractors and freelancers instead of full-time employees, often facilitated by digital platforms.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical difference in the term itself. Usage is identical in both dialects.
Connotations
Slightly stronger association with worker exploitation and precarity in UK media/political discourse; US discourse may more frequently reference tech-innovation and entrepreneurialism, though both sets of connotations exist in both regions.
Frequency
Equally frequent and established in both dialects.
Grammar
How to Use “gig economy” in a Sentence
[verb] + the gig economy (e.g., enter, join, participate in, regulate, criticise)the gig economy + [verb] (e.g., grows, thrives, expands, exploits)adjective + gig economy (e.g., modern, digital, precarious)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “gig economy” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He decided to gig-economy his skills, taking on short-term projects through various platforms.
- More workers are being gig-economied by companies avoiding permanent contracts.
American English
- She's gig-economying as a graphic designer between full-time job searches.
- The company plans to gig economy a portion of its customer service roles.
adverb
British English
- She works gig-economy, so her income varies each month.
- The service is provided gig-economy style, via an app.
American English
- He's employed gig-economy, contracting for multiple clients.
- They operate gig-economy, relying on freelancers.
adjective
British English
- They studied gig-economy workers' pension prospects.
- This is a classic gig-economy business model.
American English
- He has a gig-economy mindset, always looking for the next project.
- The report highlighted gig-economy trends in urban centres.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Discussions of labour costs, flexibility, and new business models for service delivery.
Academic
Analyses of labour sociology, economics, and the future of work.
Everyday
Discussions about job security, side hustles, or working for apps like Uber or Deliveroo.
Technical
In policy, law, and economics concerning worker classification (employee vs. contractor) and social protections.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “gig economy”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “gig economy”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “gig economy”
- Using it as an uncountable noun without 'the' (e.g., 'He works in gig economy' - INCORRECT; 'He works in the gig economy' - CORRECT).
- Confusing it with the 'sharing economy' (which focuses on shared access to goods/services, though overlap exists).
- Misspelling as 'gigg economy'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is largely descriptive but often carries negative connotations related to job precarity and lack of benefits in public discourse. Proponents may frame it positively around flexibility and innovation.
The gig economy focuses on the labour model (short-term, task-based work). The sharing economy focuses on the asset model (sharing underutilised assets, like cars or homes). They often overlap, as sharing economy platforms (e.g., Uber) frequently rely on gig economy workers.
They are typically classified as independent contractors (self-employed) by the platforms, but this legal classification is a major point of contention and litigation in many countries, with workers arguing they should be considered employees.
The term 'gig' has been used by jazz musicians since the 1920s to refer to a single performance engagement. This was metaphorically extended in the late 20th/early 21st century to any temporary, freelance, or project-based job.
A labour market characterised by short-term contracts or freelance work, as opposed to permanent jobs.
Gig economy is usually formal, journalistic, business, academic in register.
Gig economy: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɡɪɡ ɪˌkɒn.ə.mi/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɡɪɡ ɪˌkɑː.nə.mi/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To be a cog in the gig economy”
- “A race to the bottom (often associated with)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a musician going from 'gig' to 'gig'. Now imagine a whole economy ('gig economy') where many workers do the same with various short-term jobs, often booked via an app.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE LABOUR MARKET IS A MARKETPLACE FOR DISCRETE TASKS (where jobs are 'gigs' or 'tasks' to be purchased and completed, rather than ongoing relationships).
Practice
Quiz
What is a key characteristic of the gig economy?