Bridging the Gap between the Gig Economy and Migration Policy

The gig economy—that is, work or services mediated through digital platforms and generally performed by independent contractors or freelancers—has been a growing fixture of the global economy for more than a decade, expanding considerably during the COVID-19 pandemic. Though data and research are uneven, a growing body of evidence indicates that immigrants are at the heart of this growing sector in many economies worldwide.

As governments have grappled with the meteoric rise of the gig economy, however, migration and migrants have been somewhat of an afterthought. Many governments have focused on how to classify workers, while others have sought to expand eligibility for minimum wages and holiday or sick pay to gig workers. But even where policymakers have sought to think creatively, they have largely overlooked key considerations in the migration policy space.

This policy brief examines government responses around the globe to the rise of the gig economy and migrant employment within it, and how gig economy labor policies and migration policies could be adjusted to benefit migrants, receiving communities, and labor markets. The brief starts with an introduction to the gig economy, who works in it, and some common challenges faced by gig workers of all origins. It then considers key questions at the intersection of gig work and immigration and integration policy, offering recommendations for ongoing policy conversations and future research.