As the quest for employment became more and more complicated and tiresome day by day, the new generation is embarking on a work culture independent of a fussy bossing system.

Traditionally, work was mostly linked with stability, having a stable job, predetermined working hours, a fixed income, and, most importantly, access to employment benefits and security of job. But now, things are slowly changing in the wake of the expansion of the gig economy and the emergence of new kinds of employment practices. The research entitled “Daily Grind of Life of Workers on Their Own (Gig Workers): An Empirical Study in the Context of Surat City” discusses changing employment trends by looking into the lives of gig workers in Surat City.

Flexibility: The strongest attraction
It has been observed that people choose to join gig employment not only due to income generation but also because of a host of other reasons. And among those other reasons, flexibility in working hours stands out as the main motivator for choosing gig employment. In this research study, 74.4% of respondents cited flexibility in working hours as the reason for joining the gig economy.

This level of flexibility proves to be useful for those individuals who need to juggle their work along with other responsibilities. For some individuals, gig work may become a full-time job, while for others, they undertake it to earn some extra money. For those individuals who are students, unemployed, in need of extra money, and want greater control over their working hours, gig work provides a good opportunity to get into the labor market.

Where skills meet interests
Just as “a person is limited only by thoughts that he chooses," gigonomy is limited only by the skills that you desire to pursue. GigOnomy is turning into a place where people are able to convert their skills and interests into money. Be it blog writing, content writing, or AI data labeling, every passion is getting a space in gigonomy.

The income story is equally important
Income is another important element of gig employment. The results of the survey prove that the respondents mostly belonged to lower and middle-class families. The largest number of respondents earned between ₹15,001 and ₹25,000 per month. The second largest group earned ₹25,001-₹35,000 per month. 

It is important to mention that one of the peculiarities of the result of the statistical calculation was that there was a similar level of satisfaction for respondents with various income levels. It should be mentioned that it was established that there were no differences in the level of satisfaction for people with various education levels. This means that no matter the income level or educational qualifications of the workers, the amount of satisfaction remains unaffected.

Thus, the experience of gig workers should not be assessed only according to the level of income. Other factors influence the level of satisfaction, for example, independence, flexibility with work schedule, and many others. It is necessary to emphasize that 58.2% of people interviewed stated that they were satisfied with their salary in gig work. This proves that gigonomy is getting success in providing satisfaction to the people.

The Gig Economy as an Emerging Form of Long-Term Employment
Another important finding from the research is that 58.1% of those surveyed mentioned their intention to engage in gig economy jobs in the long run. This finding points toward the fact that gig work is not being taken up by the participants merely as a temporary measure until they can get into a regular job. Gig work has become a viable alternative to regular employment for many participants.

It can be noted that this trend is in line with the ongoing changes in the labor market landscape, wherein the rise of digital platforms, technological advances, and shifts in consumer behavior have created newer forms of work and blurred the existing lines between full-time jobs, self-employment, contractual labor, and temporary employment.

Independence and Control
There is another aspect that needs attention in the context of workers’ motivation, and this relates to freedom and control. Around 62.8% of respondents consider flexible hours as a determinant of job satisfaction, while 48.8% link their job satisfaction with autonomy in work.

Therefore, it can be said that the appeal of gig employment could depend not only on how much people earn but also on how they are able to do their work. Being able to have control of one's working hours and organizing one's professional life could be an important element of the entire experience of working. As far as the participants of the study are concerned, gig employment seems to provide them with an opportunity to earn a living in a convenient way. The findings therefore provide a valuable local snapshot rather than a basis for generalizing about every gig worker in India.

There is a trend taking place in the Indian labor market, where technology has influenced not only the process of work but also the concept of employment itself. The rise of the gig economy has allowed some workers to have new sources of income along with flexibility in choosing working hours and conditions. At the same time, there emerges a question about the nature and sustainability of this kind of employment. It is necessary to pay attention not to the distinctions between gig employment and traditional employment, but to the reality of the life of modern employees and to increase their strengths.