Over Half of UK Gig Workers Paid Below Minimum Wage, New Report Reveals
As living costs soar, a shocking new study shows 52% of UK gig economy workers earn less than the national minimum wage. The eye-opening research by the University of Bristol puts the average hourly pay for gig workers at just £8.97 — a full 15% below the current UK minimum wage of £10.42, which recently went up.
Stress, Insecurity, and Poor Pay Blight Gig Workers
The report surveyed 510 gig workers from rideshare drivers to data entry freelancers. A staggering 76% reported feeling insecure and anxious about their work. Even worse, 28% said their jobs put their health or safety at risk, while a quarter admitted to experiencing pain while working.
“Gig economy jobs often mean low pay, stress, and uncertainty,” said Dr Alex Wood, lead author and Senior Lecturer in Human Resource Management at Bristol. “With soaring prices for food, fuel, and housing, these workers are vulnerable and desperately need fair pay and legal protections.”
What Gig Workers Want: Rights and Representation
The gig staff want basic labour rights on the table — including proper minimum wage enforcement, holiday pay, sick leave, and safeguards against unfair firing. They also back the creation of unions and platform councils to give them a voice and sway over how platforms operate.
More than 75% believe such bodies would bring immediate improvements.
“Gig workers spend tons of unpaid time waiting or searching for work, making their wages painfully low and hours insecure and risky,” Dr Wood added. “They need urgent laws to protect them from the power imbalance with platforms. Expanding ‘worker’ status to cover gig staff is essential.”
Gig Economy is No Side Hustle for Many
Half of those surveyed are freelancers on platforms like Upwork and Fiverr, while the rest deliver food or provide taxi services with Deliveroo and Uber. They log around 28 hours a week on gig work, making up 60% of their earnings.
Respondents see themselves as self-employed but want the same labour rights workers get today. Brendan Burchell, Professor of Social Sciences at cambridge/" title="Cambridge" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked">Cambridge and co-author of the report, said:
“Workers want elected bodies to approve platform changes affecting their conditions—instantly improving lives. Our findings show huge potential for union growth, with many ready to join and organise.”
The UK gig workforce is calling for a shake-up — better pay, safety, and a stronger voice could be just what’s needed to end the misery.
