Gig Economy Growing: 870,000 Canadians Have Flexible, Short-Term Work as Main Job

A person uses a cell phone in Ottawa on July 18, 2022. The number of Canadians working through a digital platform or app is on the rise, according to new data from Statistics Canada. The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick

Nearly 900,000 Canadians turned to gig work as their main job in the final three months of 2022, according to a newly released report from Statistics Canada (StatCan).

While Canadians have increasingly turned to gig work to supplement their income amid the rising cost of living, for 871,000 workers it’s become their primary job. StatCan defines gig work as a form of employment that does not guarantee steady work and is characterized by short-term jobs or tasks.