Instawork Economic Research

State of the Flexible Workforce

This inaugural report sheds light on the fastest-growing segment of the American workforce. The data detail the diversity, quality, and motivations of these hourly workers, as well as pinpointing the factors that make them successful.

Flexible Workers are:

• More highly educated than hourly workers overall

• Motivated by the chance to set their own schedules

• Paid more than permanent employees doing similar jobs
  

• Facing zero gaps in pay (on average) across gender, race, and ethnicity

Extra income is essential

Amid higher consumer prices, flexible work has become an important way to make ends meet. In an Instawork survey, 76% of Pros said they used flexible work to pay for essentials.