---
title: "Why join the gig economy? For many, the answer is ‘for fun’"
description: "Nearly a quarter of Americans say they’ve earned money in the digital “platform economy” in the past year, according to a new Pew Research Center survey. Perhaps surprisingly, though, the most commonly cited motivation for these workers is not the pay."
date: "2016-11-18"
authors:
  - name: "Aaron Smith"
    job_title: "Director, Data Labs"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/aaron-smith/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2016/11/18/why-join-the-gig-economy-for-many-the-answer-is-for-fun/"
categories:
  - "Business & Workplace"
  - "Future of Work"
  - "Gaming"
  - "Gig & Sharing Economies"
  - "Gig & Sharing Economies"
  - "Leisure"
  - "Platforms & Services"
---

# Why join the gig economy? For many, the answer is ‘for fun’

Nearly a quarter of Americans say they’ve earned money in the digital “platform economy” in the past year, according to a [new Pew Research Center survey](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2016/11/17/gig-work-online-selling-and-home-sharing/). Perhaps surprisingly, though, the most commonly cited motivation for these workers is not the pay.

[![](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2016/11/FT_16.11.18_taskPlatforms_fun.png)](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2016/11/17/gig-work-online-selling-and-home-sharing/)

Our survey asked those who have earned money through digital employment platforms – such as ride-hailing apps or various digital task sites – why they take on this type of work. They cited a number of reasons, from helping to fill in gaps in their other sources of income (37% mentioned this) to needing ways to earn money that could fit into the other demands on their time (30%). But the number one motivation, cited by 42% of respondents, was fun, or because the work gives them something to do in their spare time.

A closer examination of this group highlights several themes that speak to the significant diversity in the broader gig economy.

First, many of these “platform earners” engage in this work for a variety of reasons. Among those who are motivated by a desire to have fun or for something to do in their spare time, around one-quarter (27%) *also* say that they engage in this work to help fill gaps or fluctuations in their other income. Meanwhile, around one-in-five say they are also motivated by a desire to gain work experience (19%) or because of a lack of other jobs in their area (17%), while 15% cite the need to control their own schedule due to other obligations.

Second, those who take on gig work for this reason engage in a wide range of jobs and tasks – including some that many Americans might not immediately think of as fun. Overwhelmingly, this group gravitates toward online tasks that might be completed on sites such as Amazon’s [Mechanical Turk](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2016/07/11/research-in-the-crowdsourcing-age-a-case-study/): 69% say that they have earned money in the past year performing online tasks on these platforms. But just under one-in-five have earned money in the past year by shopping for or delivering household items (18%), doing chores like cleaning or laundry (17%), or driving for a ride-hailing service (16%).

Third, just because they are motivated in part by a desire to pass the time does not mean that the income they earn is not important to them. Three-in-five of these earners (62%) say that the income they earn from their platform work is nice to have, but that they could live comfortably without it. But around one-in-five say this income is either essential to meeting their basic needs (20%) or at minimum an important component of their overall budget (18%).

In the end, these findings highlight the extent to which participants in the digital gig economy cover a [wide spectrum](https://hbr.org/2016/11/what-motivates-gig-economy-workers) of characteristics and a diverse range of motivations – from dedicated workers who rely heavily on their income to hobbyists for whom financial considerations are of secondary importance to doing something they love.