For Hannibal Darby, the value of gig work can be summed up in one word: flexibility.

"Well, the most important aspect of it is the ability to take my son to school every day," said Darby, a gig worker on multiple platforms and a Youtuber. "The ability to be there...no matter what, because of the flexible work. The money is decent enough where you can, I can, you know, take my son to school every day. You know, that's a special time, a very important time for me. And that's probably the most important reason for my, you know, the flexibility of if something happens at school or even other parts of my family or something, you know, my mom needs something."

A 2021 report from Harvard Business School found that 76% of the 808 respondents to a survey said that flexibility was extremely important to them, while 69% highly valued the opportunity to bring in extra income. 10% of respondents said that losing flexibility would be the equivalent of taking a 15% pay cut, according to the report. 

 By 2027, the number of freelancers in the U.S. is expected to increase to 86.5 million, or half of the total workforce, according to Fast Company.  Full-time freelancers represented 28% of the workforce in 2019, increasing to 36% in 2020.  30% of Fortune 100 companies utilize freelance workers, according to Upwork CEO Hayden Brown.  “Freelancers are in high demand in pretty much every skill area that can be done in front of a computer," said Brown.            

A 2018 Gallup poll found that gig workers "Experience high levels of work-life balance, flexibility, autonomy, meaningful feedback and creative freedom." 

Darby runs a YouTube channel called Hannibal is Hungry, where he shares videos related to the gig economy. Darby creates videos aimed at helping his more than 3,400 subscribers excel in gig economy work.