The Gig Economy and Job Security: Evidence on Employment Stability and Income Risk in India

The rapid expansion of the gig economy in India has reshaped labour market opportunities while raising concerns about job security and income instability. This paper examines the relationship between gig employment, employment stability, and income risk using secondary micro-level data from nationally representative labour force surveys. Job security is conceptualised along two dimensions: continuity of employment and predictability of earnings. Using fixed-effects panel estimations and within-individual income volatility measures, we find that gig workers experience significantly lower employment stability and substantially higher income risk than standard employees, even after controlling for demographic characteristics, sectoral composition, and regional economic conditions. Heterogeneity analyses indicate that adverse effects are strongest among younger workers, migrants, and those with lower educational attainment. The findings suggest that platform-mediated employment in India amplifies labour market risks in the absence of adequate social protection, underscoring the need for policy frameworks that extend worker security beyond standard employment relationships.