A gig worker on multiple platforms who now makes YouTube videos to help others similar to him is encouraging members of the gig economy to leverage community resources to optimize earnings through gig work.
Hannibal Darby says the only thing getting in the way of individuals' success in gig work is a lack of knowledge.
"The only barrier is probably knowledge of how to do it, how to make a decent amount of money doing apps,” Darby said. “A lot of what I've learned has been from going on YouTube, having a community of other gig workers that kind of show you the ropes on how to do it effectively. ... But when you start to go on YouTube and Facebook and Reddit, you start to learn how to do it properly and truly behave like an independent contractor. You only take offers that are beneficial to you."
Darby runs a YouTube channel called Hannibal is Hungry, through which he shares videos related to the gig economy. Darby creates videos aimed at helping his 3.26k subscribers excel in gig economy work.
Uber is ranked number four in a list from the Ways to Wealth called "32 Highest Paying Gig Economy Jobs for 2021" as it has the average pay of $18 per hour. This rate is an estimate, as the hourly pay for an Uber driver depends on the driver's location and the demand for services. The pay rate also does not reflect out-of-pocket costs such as gas, vehicle maintenance and other necessary upkeep. Ranking number one in the list was DoorDash, followed by Postmates Courier and Grubhub.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, it takes the average unemployed American around 13 weeks to find a new job. However, people who qualify can begin working as Dashers for DoorDash within a day of signing up, according to a press release. More than half of Dashers who registered in 2021 completed their first delivery within a week of signing up.
According to a 2021 Pew Research Center study, 16% of Americans have earned money through an online gig platform in their lifetime. 30% of Americans between the ages of 18 and 29 have participated in the gig economy through food or grocery delivery, performing household tasks such as assembling furniture, driving for a ride-hailing service, or something similar.