gig economy

American  

[gig i-kon-uh-mee] / ˈgɪg ɪˈkɒn ə mi /

noun

Slang.

1. an economic sector consisting of part-time, temporary, and freelance jobs.

   rapid growth of the online gig economy.

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Etymology

Origin of gig economy

First recorded in 2005–10; gig ¹ ( def. ) (in the sense “a job of uncertain duration”) + economy ( def. )

Example Sentences

After a string of unstable jobs, Hu, like many, joined the gig economy in 2017.

From Barron's • Jan. 9, 2026

This gap is a warning sign for the burgeoning gig economy, where workers trade stable employee benefits for more flexible schedules.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 8, 2025

It comes as Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has been targeting people working unlawfully in the "gig economy".

From BBC • Dec. 5, 2025

Meanwhile, millions of unionized 9-to-5 jobs have disappeared, leaving many Americans working longer shifts, holding down multiple jobs or picking up ad hoc work in the gig economy.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 11, 2025

His subject is a fertile one too: the gig economy fostering our crushing inequity, but also the desperation of the have-nots and how oblivious the wealthy are about those who made them rich.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 17, 2025