Unlocking the Potential of the Gig Economy in India

The ‘gig’ economy has grown significantly in the past decade with the advent of technology platforms like Ola, Uber, Swiggy, Dunzo, UrbanCompany among others. With the emergence of technology-enabled gig work platforms, over 200 million people are considered part of the gig workforce globally. This form of ‘gig’ work is not a new concept to India and has always existed in our large informal economy. This report published in collaboration with Michael & Susan Dell Foundation (MSDF), provides a detailed look at the gig economy’s potential and sheds light on its dynamics, pain points, and opportunities for action.

Based on extensive primary interviews, field research and expert inputs, the report summarizes that the gig economy has the potential to serve up to 90 million jobs (roughly 30% of India’s non-farm workforce), add up to 1.25% to India’s GDP in the long-run, and create millions of new jobs across all sectors of India’s economy. It also identified 8 distinct segments of gig workers, each with different job-drivers and priorities that must be catered-to for platforms and businesses to take full advantage of the gig economy’s potential.

The report also outlines a roadmap to unlocking India’s gig economy at-scale and explores in-depth the roles that entrepreneurs, investors, non-governmental organizations, and policymakers must play to create an ecosystem that is vibrant, flexible, and inclusive of all workers.

Read the Full Report →

Read the Executive Summary →

View the launch video →