Nearly one-quarter of Canadians work in the gig economy: poll

A new report from insurance provider Securian Canada reveals that many Canadians are turning to gig work to supplement their income and cope with the rising cost of living. The report, developed in collaboration with the Angus Reid Institute, shows that nearly a quarter of respondents engage in gig work—short-term jobs or tasks that don’t guarantee steady employment.

Many are taking on gig work in addition to their regular jobs, highlighting how some traditional jobs aren’t keeping pace with financial pressures. The job market is increasingly shifting towards short-term gigs and contract work.

Vancouver-based freelance graphic designer Cheryl Loh shared her experience of leaving the traditional workforce to offer project-based services. "I get to determine how I spend my day, and there's no limit to the income I want to make," Loh said, adding that she initially entered the gig economy to pursue a passion project creating greeting cards. During the pandemic, she shifted focus to freelance design, which is now her main source of income. Although her work lacks the stability of a full-time job, Loh sets her own rates and hours, and believes she earns more than in a regular role. "It's very difficult for me to imagine going back to a traditional job because I feel like I have so much more ownership of my time," she noted.

Securian estimates millions of Canadians are participating in the gig economy. Statistics Canada defines gig workers as those involved in casual work arrangements, such as short-term contracts or one-off tasks, often facilitated by apps like ride-hailing or food delivery platforms. Securian’s survey of 1,515 Canadians asked how many earn income "outside of standard, employer-employee relationships," casting a wide net over what constitutes gig work.

Nigel Branker, CEO of Securian Canada, emphasized, "This is a rapidly emerging segment of the workforce that isn't well understood." The survey found that younger workers are more likely to participate, with 30 per cent of those aged 18 to 34 involved in the gig economy, compared to 23 per cent of respondents aged 35 to 54 and 16 per cent of those over 55. Additionally, racialized individuals were more likely to be gig workers, with 32 per cent participating compared to 20 per cent of white respondents.

A second survey of 505 gig workers revealed that 30 per cent offered specialized services like consulting or photography, 26 per cent sold items on platforms like Amazon or Etsy, and 21 per cent provided freelance services like graphic design or tutoring. Food delivery workers accounted for eight per cent, and ride-hailing drivers for three per cent.

Branker expressed surprise at how many gig workers also hold traditional jobs, with more than half taking on gig work in addition to full-time or part-time employment. Despite 44 per cent of gig workers making over $100,000 a year, about a third said they needed the additional income.

Sylvia Fuller, a labour market researcher at the University of British Columbia, noted that the findings illustrate how rising costs are impacting Canadians. "Even folks that are earning incomes that we would have thought would be more than sufficient in previous times are really feeling some financial stress and feeling the pinch," she said.

While workers turn to gig work to boost their earnings, Fuller pointed out that employers are driving the shift toward more temporary and freelance roles to avoid the costs associated with permanent employees, such as benefits or pensions. "There's been this attempt to reclassify workers either as temporary workers or as self-employed independent contractors so that employers don't need to bear responsibilities to workers," she explained, calling it "an employer-driven phenomenon."