In today's dynamic job market, the rise of the gig economy has significantly altered the way people work and earn money. Whether it's driving for a ride-sharing service, delivering food to customers, or shopping for groceries on-demand, gig work offers flexibility and autonomy that traditional employment often lacks. However, understanding earnings trends within this evolving landscape is crucial for gig workers to maximize their income potential. The Solo Market Pulse aims to bridge the gap between drivers and the information they need to make informed decisions about gig work.
Rideshare Trends:
Ridesharing platforms like Uber and Lyft have significantly altered urban transportation, providing convenient alternatives to traditional taxis. However, earnings in the rideshare sector can fluctuate based on various factors such as location, time of day, and demand.
Seasonal trends play a significant role, with peak hours during rush periods and weekends often yielding higher earnings due to increased demand. Nevada and South Carolina saw the greatest decreases month-over-month (MoM), while Oregon, Alaska, and Montana saw the greatest increases, with Montana increasing by over 10% going into June. Georgia, Massachusetts, and California stayed steady in rideshare earnings.
Food Delivery Trends:
Food delivery services such as DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub have experienced a surge in popularity amidst the COVID-19 pandemic as more people opt for meal deliveries. This has resulted in more drivers taking on gig work as a full-time yet flexible way to work.
Just like rideshare, food delivery earnings can vary based on location and time. Lunch and dinner hours typically see higher demand. The biggest tip observed during the dinner rush was $216 on DoorDash.
Understanding regional variations in earnings is essential for gig workers to optimize their income. Washington, Vermont, and Alaska were states with the highest earnings per hour in food delivery in June 2024. Mississippi had the lowest earnings per hour at $12.23 per hour.
North Dakota and Massachusetts saw near 3 percent decreases in hourly earnings from May to June 2024, while Maine saw a 10 percent increase. Tennessee and Nebraska stayed steady in their hourly earnings for food delivery.
About the Author
Shaili is the Business Operations Manager at Solo. With her background in supply chain operations, analytics, and research, Shaili helps Solo scale and serve as many gig workers as possible.
Solo
With this blog series, Solo aims to empower drivers to thrive in the gig economy by providing access to current information. By staying informed about seasonal fluctuations and leveraging resources like Solo's earnings trend map, gig workers can maximize their income and achieve financial stability in an ever-changing landscape.
Check back next month for another release of Solo’s Market Pulse! In the meantime, you can read other blog posts here.