The Gig Economy

By Inshirah Zaib

September 2025

Your parents probably imagine “a stable career” as a 9-to-5 office job, maybe with a retirement plan, dental coverage, and that awkward yearly holiday party. But for a lot of people today, that idea of work is starting to look ancient. Instead, they’re welcoming the gig economy: a world where side hustles, freelancing, and contract work are redefining what it means to have a job.

The Rise of the Gig Economy

The gig economy isn’t new (technically babysitting and mowing lawns count), but the internet turned it into a global movement. Companies like Uber, DoorDash, and Freelancer have made it ridiculously easy for people to pick up work whenever they want. Don’t feel like committing to a full-time job? No problem. Just log in, grab a gig, and get paid.

For workers, this flexibility is the best. You can decide your own hours, work from anywhere, and maybe even balance multiple gigs at once. If you’re a graphic designer, you could spend the morning making logos for a startup in New York and the afternoon editing YouTube thumbnails for a gamer in Tokyo, all from your laptop in Toronto. That kind of global access was unthinkable 20 years ago.

Why Businesses Love It

For companies, the gig economy is like hiring help on-demand. Traditional businesses had to commit to hiring full-time staff, paying benefits, and providing office space. But now? They can hire contractors for specific projects, saving money and time. For example, Airbnb: They don’t own hotels; they rely on millions of hosts to do the work. Some traditional businesses are even mixing in gig-style work. For instance, big retailers like Walmart and Amazon sometimes use temporary, flexible workers during busy holiday seasons. It’s how they stay competitive amid high demand.

The Pros and Cons for Workers

Pros:

• Flexibility: Work when you want, where you want.

• Variety: You’re not stuck doing the same task every day.

• Control: You’re your own boss (mostly).

Cons:

• No benefits: This means no health insurance, vacation pay, or pensions.

• Unpredictable income: One week, you’re rich!!! Next, you’re wondering if you can pay rent.

• No job security: A company could change its rules or cut back gigs overnight.

The Pros and Cons for Companies

Pros:

• Lower costs: No need to pay benefits or provide long-term contracts.

• Scalability: Need more workers for a project? Just hire freelancers.

• Specialization: Companies can hire experts for one-off tasks without keeping them on payroll.

Cons:

• Loyalty issues: Gig workers aren’t tied to one company, so they might cancel the last minute and there’s nothing you can do.

• Quality control: When everyone’s independent, it’s harder to guarantee consistent service.

• Public image: Companies like Uber have faced backlash for how they treat gig workers.

Conclusion

The gig economy will definitely continue growing. This means traditional businesses will have to keep adapting, governments will need to rethink labor laws, and workers will need to decide if flexibility outweighs stability. But maybe the bigger question is: what do we want work to look like in the future? Do we want total freedom, even if it’s risky? Or do we want stability, even if it feels restrictive?

Either way, the gig economy is reshaping how we think about jobs. Considering the generation that grew up with TikTok, side hustles, and online everything, it kind of makes sense. The office cubicle just doesn’t cut it anymore.