The charm of gig work is in autonomy and flexibility
And we must not f* it up
Every now and then, I peel myself away from my tiny apartment to see actual people and sit through presentations. Ha! Last week’s was on gig work in the Philippines: the results of a study by IPSOS Strategy3 called Gig Life PH: Understanding the Realities and Preferences of Filipino Gig Workers.
If you’ve ever taken on a gig, you know the great feeling that comes with getting paid after wrapping up a project. In my early professional years, I picked up freelance writing because the money came easily if you were fast enough.
My dudes, today’s platforms are far from the unsecured client agreements we used to seal via SMS in 2009.
A profile of the raketero/raketera
About 9.9 million Filipinos were engaged in gig work in 2022. That's nearly a quarter of our 44-million-strong workforce, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority. We probably have more now, with some earning dollars and servicing clients from two other continents.
While there’s no consensus (yet) on the definition of gig work or the gig worker, the World Bank uses the term “non-standard employment” to describe jobs that fall outside the usual parameters of fixed hours, fixed pay, and fixed benefits. Here in the Philippines, we merely have a broad categorization composed of:
Location-based gig workers: Who handle tasks that require being physically present in a specific place to deliver the service (e.g., ride-hailing, photography, aircon cleaning, hair and make-up, fitness coaching)
Non-location-based gigworkers: Who take on remote tasks (e.g., consulting, social media management)
For most workers (61%), gig work remains a secondary income stream rather than the main hustle. Nearly 4 in 10 gig workers are aged 25–34, and those with higher education tend to prefer non-location-based work. Many turn to gig work for extra income, flexible schedules and locations, and the chance to accelerate financial goals, whether for savings or retirement.
The earnings can swing wildly. IPSOS says there’s a 10% to 30% pay volatility, but despite that, 78% of respondents said they are satisfied with the freedom and potential that gig work offers. In an ideal setting, gig work makes people feel respected and rewarded for their ability to deliver.
This, in fact, is aligned with my experience.
Things can get better
The beauty of the gig economy is that the rules aren’t fixed (yet). We’re still shaping a model that balances social protections with the very thing that makes gig work attractive, which is flexibility.
Gig workers have been clear that they don’t want to be boxed into traditional rules or forced to clock minimum hours. What they do want is a supportive system where:
Earnings are transparent and aligned with market rates
Platforms (whether Upwork or Grab) clearly break down fees and payments
Social protections (healthcare, retirement savings) are available on an opt-in basis
Registration and compliance are simple and accessible
Upskilling opportunities are within reach
Honestly, I think that’s enough policy guidance. All of these things are basic.
Anything more risks drowning workers and platforms alike in needless compliance, one that shifts energy away from productivity and growth, and back into paperwork.
Power to you, gig worker!
The gig economy is a rising tide.
It’s changing (or has changed) how we work, earn, and plan our lives. There’s no surprise it’s booming, because people have goals they want to reach faster, expenses a single job can’t cover, and responsibilities (like caring for family) that demand more flexibility than a 9-to-5 could ever allow.
If you have not tried it yet, engaging in gig work for purposes other than cash flow can turn it into a hedge against uncertainty and a platform for self-determination.
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