Households with Children Emerge as Power Users of the Gig Economy

Core Insights - Households with children are significant users of gig economy services, utilizing them at a rate nearly 50% higher than households without children [1][2] - 23% of households with children spend $500 or more monthly on gig services, compared to just 5% of households without children [2] Gig Economy Usage - 61% of households with children use food delivery services weekly, while 40% of those without children do [3] - For grocery/retail delivery, 54% of households with children use it weekly compared to 33% of those without children [3] - Ride-sharing services are used weekly by 53% of households with children versus 36% of those without children [3] - Emerging gig services like digital freelancing and in-person contracting see households with children as twice as likely to be weekly users [3][4] Preferences and Engagement - Households with children value the wide selection of providers (43% vs. 25%) and ease of finding services (51% vs. 40%) more than those without children [5] - Promotions and loyalty programs are prioritized by households with children when selecting gig services, indicating a potential area for platforms to enhance consumer engagement [5] Trust and Safety Concerns - 83% of users are satisfied with trust and safety features, but over half would stop using a platform if they experienced scams or account compromises [6] - Nearly 40% of users express concerns about fraud or scams, with 67% suggesting that verification of worker identity could reduce these issues [7] - Background checks and biometrics are also favored methods for ensuring safety in gig services [7] Research Methodology - The findings are based on an online survey of 1,051 adults conducted in February 2025, representing a statistically significant sample across all U.S. regions [10]