More gig economy workers that participate in ride-hailing services prefer being independent contractors and believe the government should allow company regulations to remain the same, according to a study.

"I am very constable and satisfied with the current system," Augustus Payne, an Uber driver from Miami, Florida said. "For independent drivers, any change would add more and more complications. I am definitely against any such proposals."

According to a Pew Research Center study that surveyed 10,348 U.S. adults from Aug. 23 to Aug. 29, 2021, Democrats are more likely to describe ride-hailing drivers as employees, favor more regulations of gig economy companies, and prefer more legal protections for drivers.

" If you try to regulate the gig economy, you will be taking extra income or from people who are trying to balance their young families and working," Camille Mauro, an Uber driver in Miami, said about why the government should not force gig economy companies to reclassify independent contractors to employees. "For me, it is better to be an independent contractor than an employee for a second employer due to my personal health issues and family." 

The study found that 62% of adults in the U.S. refer to ride-hailing drivers as independent contractors, while 35% consider them to be employees that work directly for the website or app. The survey found that 71% of Republicans were likely to consider ride-hailing drivers to be independent contractors and only 25% described them as employees. Democrats, on the other hand, had a total of 54% describing ride-hailing drivers as independent contractors and 44% as employees.

"’I've been an entrepreneur all my life. I like the ability to be an independent contractor even now that I am semi-retired. I don’t need government protecting me as a ride-share driver. Please do not force me into an employee relationship! The CEO of Uber has offered some serious suggestions to give gig employees added options for benefits. I hope you will just as seriously consider those proposals," Lance Hutchinson, an Uber driver out of Tallahassee, Florida.

The public is more likely to say that the most appropriate way to classify drivers for ride-hailing companies is “independent contractor” rather than “employee.” according to the study. A majority also support the idea of providing better protection for drivers: 57% of Americans think those who drive for ride-hailing companies deserve greater legal protections from being mistreated," the research stated. The survey also found that "72% of current or recent gig workers say the companies that run these apps or sites have been at least somewhat fair when it comes to how their jobs are assigned, while 64% say the same about their pay."

"I just want to say that as an Uber driver, I love setting my schedules...work the days that I want, and not be forced to sign in and out on their time" Polinario Paz, an Uber driver from Tampa Florida, who don't want to be categorized as an employee, said. "I want to still be considered an independent contractor." 

Of current gig workers surveyed, 65% consider themselves to be independent contractors, while only 28% said they think of themselves as employees. The political breakdown of these percentages included 70% of Republicans and 62% of Democratic gig workers considered themselves independent contractors.

"This survey finds that a majority of Americans (62%) say the most appropriate way to describe drivers for companies that offer ride-hailing apps like Uber or Lyft is as independent contractors providing a service on behalf of the apps or websites. A smaller share (35%) says these drivers are employees who work directly for the apps or websites," the research said.

As part of the survey, the Pew Research Center found that about four in ten, or 42%, Americans have heard nothing about debates on how ride-hailing drivers should be classified, while 56% of Americans say they have heard at least a little.

Of those surveyed, 53% of all U.S. adults believed that the number of government regulations on ride-hailing companies should continue the same as it is now with 58% being Republication and 50% Democratics of that 53%. Another 40% of Democrats believe that the government should put more regulations on ride-hailing app companies, with only 8% saying there should be fewer regulations. For Republicans, 15% believe the government should place more regulations on the companies and 24% said there should be less.

Freelancers are more politically active than traditional workers, with the survey indicating their level of political activity is 19 points higher than of traditional workers. Of those, 72% would be willing to cross party lines to support candidates who advance gig workers' interests.