Independent work: choice, necessity, and the gig economy

Caregivers could benefit from the flexibility offered by independent work
Caregivers, who make up 5 to 15 percent of the non-earning population in our survey 
countries, are another segment that can greatly benefit from flexible independent work 
opportunities. Many people drop out of the labor force to care for children or elderly 
relatives, and in countries with aging populations, the need for caregiving is increasing. 
Seventeen percent of the total sample in our survey reported providing care to an elderly 
dependent. These caregivers participated in independent work at a significantly higher 
rate (47 percent of all caregivers who earn were independent) than non-caregivers (only 
37 percent of whom were independent). More of them engage in independent work for 
supplemental income (67 percent compared with 54 percent for non-caregivers). 
Independent work, from providing professional services to driving for an on-demand 
service or renting out a room, provides a way for caregivers to generate income while fitting 
their hours around the needs of their families. This type of flexibility can ease the burden 
on financially stressed households facing logistical challenges. It is, of course, possible 
for traditional workplaces to offer more flexible hours and options such as telecommuting 
to accommodate the needs of caregivers (and public policy can encourage or require 
companies to do this), but because independent work is flexible by nature, it does appear 
well suited to meet these needs. 
Exhibit 26