Ride‑hailing, delivery and home services dominate future gig employment in India

The gig economy in India is rapidly reshaping the employment landscape. By 2030, ride‑hailing is predicted to host the bulk of gig workers, with an estimated 12‑14 million drivers. Delivery platforms could employ 5‑7 million workers, and home‑service apps are likely to create between 20,000 and 30,000 jobs.

These three sectors together could account for the majority of the 80 lakh non‑agricultural positions expected each year, covering roughly 70 per cent of the demand.

The report notes that a sizable share of the gig labour pool—over 30 per cent—will consist of first‑time earners. More than half of the surveyed gig workers indicated they had no prior salaried employment before joining platforms.

Average hourly earnings for gig workers stand at INR 138, compared with INR 54 for workers in similar formal or informal jobs, underscoring the financial attractiveness of full‑time gig engagements.