VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — Any time someone orders food delivery, hails a ride through an app, or books entertainment for a party, they are participating in the expanding gig economy — a dynamic segment of the U.S. workforce that continues to reshape how Americans work.

New data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2023 Nonemployer Statistics (NES) program highlights this growth, showing an increase in individual proprietorships across several key industries. These gig economy participants — often operating as sole proprietors — made up approximately 86.4% of all nonemployer businesses and accounted for 67.8% of total U.S. business establishments.

While not all nonemployer businesses fall under the gig economy umbrella, many of the fastest-growing sectors do. These include services like ridesharing, food delivery, freelance art, janitorial work, and child care.

The five largest gig-associated industries by number of individual proprietorships in 2023 were:

  • Couriers and Messengers (1,430,708)
  • Taxi and Limousine Services (1,355,360)
  • Janitorial Services (1,072,010)
  • Independent Artists, Writers and Performers (1,043,306)
  • Child Care Services (529,554)

This reflects a shift from 2018, when industries like Landscaping Services were in the top five, while Couriers and Messengers were not yet as dominant.

Collectively, these industries generated an estimated $152.6 billion in receipts in 2023. Leading the way in revenue:

  • Taxi and Limousine Services – $39.9 billion
  • Independent Artists, Writers and Performers – $25.4 billion
  • Janitorial Services – $20.0 billion
  • Couriers and Messengers – $18.7 billion
  • Landscaping Services – $15.3 billion

In comparison, 2018 data showed Child Care Services rounding out the top five by receipts, though that industry has since dropped out of the top earners as couriers have surged in prominence.

The NES is the most comprehensive public source of data on the gig economy, providing key insights into industries typically not captured in employer-based reporting. These insights underscore the rising importance of flexible, on-demand labor in shaping the modern economy.

The term “gig economy” itself has roots in the music industry, referring to one-off performances or “gigs” by musicians.

As the landscape of employment continues to evolve, the gig economy’s presence shows no signs of slowing, reshaping not only how Americans earn a living but how services are delivered in everyday life.

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