The gig economy is expanding rapidly, but there is little data available on the gendered experiences of gig work or on gig workers outside of North America and Europe.
This report aims to fill that gap by analyzing data from a two-year project around women’s engagement in the gig economy in Kenya and South Africa. Specifically, it looks at the quality of gig work available and its implications for workers’ management of paid work and unpaid work.
The findings show that while the gig economy offers some positive features — such as greater hourly pay or flexibility around child care, the unpredictability of earnings, safety issues, and social insurance protections are causes for concern. The report concludes that there is a strong role for governments and companies to play in supporting the economic empowerment of women gig workers.