THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONDITIONS OF GIG WORKERS IN URBAN INDIA A SURVIVAL PERSPECTIVE

DOI: https://doie.org/10.65985/APER.2026940115

Authors:

Dr. S Chandra Sekhar, Dr. Vankdoth Praveen Kumar, Prof. S. S. Prasada Rao, Dr. Jegadeesan S, N. Radha

Keywords:

Gig Economy, India, Urban Labor Market, Income Volatility, Livelihood Sustainability, Algorithmic Precarity, Flexibility Trap, Exit Barriers, Stopgap. 1533-1541

Abstract:

The promise of the gig economy in urban India is a seductive one: freedom, flexibility, and a quick path to income. However, for millions of young, frequently migratory workers, this promise rapidly devolves into a daily battle against algorithmic instability. This chapter transcends joyful storylines to pose a fundamental, very poignant question: Is gig labor a viable livelihood or only a desperate interim solution? Utilizing a thorough synthesis of more than 300 sources, including institutional data from NITI Aayog, the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), and the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), we empirically examine the socio-economic conditions of urban gig workers. Our findings are clear: although gig employment offers instant earnings, it is predominantly marked by significant income volatility (monthly swings of 30–50%) and a total lack of a social safety net. We present and validate the notion of the "Flexibility Trap," illustrating how asset reliance (the debt-financed bicycle) and skill stagnation establish formidable escape obstacles, converting a sought-after short-term remedy into an involuntary, long-term survival strategy. The chapter concludes that for most individuals, gig labor serves as a survivalist means of income, a fragile type of digitally structured informality that transfers all risk onto the worker. Immediate policy actions, such as minimum income guarantees and universal social security, are essential to reinstate dignity for this crucial yet susceptible workforce.

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