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Well-Positioned Gig Economy Stocks Amid the Theme's Rising Adoption
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An updated edition of the August 4, 2026 article.
The gig economy has gained significant momentum since the pandemic, reshaping how people work. It enables individuals to determine their schedules, workloads and work settings. As workers and businesses increasingly seek flexible, modern employment arrangements, this evolving model has grown rapidly.
One of the gig economy’s biggest attractions is its potential to promote a healthier work-life balance. For many people, working independently is more appealing than the stability of a regular paycheck. Those who favor adaptable work arrangements often value the ability to choose when, where, and how much they work more than the security of traditional employment.
The flexibility and numerous benefits of the gig economy have also made daily life more convenient. Ride-hailing companies such as Uber (UBER - Free Report) and Lyft (LYFT - Free Report) , along with food-delivery platform DoorDash (DASH - Free Report) , rely heavily on gig workers. Similarly, the availability of platforms connecting skilled freelancers with businesses seeking support for short-term projects adds to the appeal of the gig economy theme, which is gaining popularity by the day. This demonstrates the strong appeal of independent and self-directed work.
Even tech giants like Alphabet (GOOGL - Free Report) and Amazon (AMZN - Free Report) are jumping into this trend and making the most of its convenience and flexibility. The gig economy’s continued expansion underscores its increasing importance. According to Business Research Insights, the global gig economy market is projected to reach $674.13 billion by the end of 2026. It is expected to grow to $2.52 trillion by 2035, reflecting a robust compound annual growth rate of 15.8% during the 2026-2035 period.
These projections highlight the substantial opportunities available to companies participating in the gig economy. Investors can use our thematic screens to identify stocks connected to trends that are shaping the future of investing. If the Gig Economy matches your investment preferences and you want exposure to this expanding trend, stocks such as Uber, DoorDash and Lyft may be worth monitoring.
Ready to uncover more transformative thematic investment ideas? Explore 40 cutting-edge investment themes with Zacks Thematic Investing Screens and discover your next big opportunity.
Uber’s gig-economy business connects independent drivers and couriers with consumers seeking rides and deliveries. Its platform provides flexible earning opportunities across more than 70 countries, allowing participants to generate income without fixed work schedules. Uber’s demand-prediction, matching, routing and payments technologies support this model by connecting workers with consumer demand. The breadth of its network helps support service availability while creating earning opportunities across different locations and times of day.
Uber’s presence in both mobility and delivery broadens its gig-economy opportunities. Beyond passenger transportation, Uber Eats connects couriers with demand for meals, groceries, convenience items and other retail products. Delivery also attracts workers who lack access to vehicles that meet the requirements for passenger rides. Meanwhile, Uber Direct extends delivery opportunities to orders placed through merchants’ own channels. Together, these services expand the potential pool of earners and can improve utilization across Uber’s network.
Attracting and retaining drivers and couriers remains essential to Uber’s gig-economy model. The company develops tools that help workers identify when and where earnings opportunities are strongest and make informed decisions about costs. It also partners with insurers and educational institutions to offer protection and learning opportunities to eligible participants.
DoorDash’s gig-economy model connects consumers and local merchants with delivery workers known as Dashers. Merchants receive orders through its marketplaces, while Dashers collect products and deliver them to customers. For the vast majority of delivery transactions, DoorDash describes its role as arranging delivery opportunities rather than controlling how the delivery service is performed. This structure makes its courier network central to translating online consumer demand into completed local deliveries.
DoorDash supports courier participation through delivery payouts, incentives and referral programs. Dasher payouts include payments for deliveries, incentives and tips, while peak-pay incentives provide additional compensation for accepting opportunities during periods of high demand. Referral bonuses help attract new participants, subject to qualifying conditions. These mechanisms help DoorDash build delivery capacity and encourage courier availability when demand rises, supporting the functioning of its gig-economy marketplace.
DoorDash’s broader local-commerce platform expands the channels through which delivery opportunities can arise. Membership programs such as DashPass, Wolt+ and Deliveroo Plus reduce delivery and service fees, potentially encouraging repeat orders. Meanwhile, Drive provides delivery fulfillment for merchants’ own sales channels, extending the company’s delivery network beyond orders originating directly on its marketplaces.
Lyft’s gig-economy focus centers on its ridesharing marketplace, which connects drivers with passengers seeking on-demand transportation. Drivers can earn on flexible schedules, making the platform accessible to participants balancing driving with education, family responsibilities, business ownership or retirement. Substantially all of Lyft’s revenues come from this marketplace, primarily through service fees and commissions collected from drivers. Consequently, maintaining an engaged driver base and sufficient ride demand is fundamental to its business.
Lyft uses predictive technology to help drivers identify when and where demand is strongest, supporting more effective use of their time. Its upfront-pay feature allows drivers to review ride information and expected earnings before accepting a trip, improving transparency. The company also provides earnings tools, educational resources and round-the-clock support. These features support driver participation, while efficient matching and dispatching help connect available drivers with riders and reduce passenger wait times.
Lyft’s Express Drive program broadens access to gig work by allowing eligible drivers without a qualifying vehicle to rent one through Flexdrive or rental partners. Its range of ride options, including standard, XL and premium services, addresses different passenger needs and creates varied opportunities for participating drivers. Lyft’s acquisition of Freenow also expanded its platform into nine additional countries and more than 180 cities in 2025, extending its reach into European taxi and mobility markets.
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Well-Positioned Gig Economy Stocks Amid the Theme's Rising Adoption
An updated edition of the August 4, 2026 article.
The gig economy has gained significant momentum since the pandemic, reshaping how people work. It enables individuals to determine their schedules, workloads and work settings. As workers and businesses increasingly seek flexible, modern employment arrangements, this evolving model has grown rapidly.
One of the gig economy’s biggest attractions is its potential to promote a healthier work-life balance. For many people, working independently is more appealing than the stability of a regular paycheck. Those who favor adaptable work arrangements often value the ability to choose when, where, and how much they work more than the security of traditional employment.
The flexibility and numerous benefits of the gig economy have also made daily life more convenient. Ride-hailing companies such as Uber (UBER - Free Report) and Lyft (LYFT - Free Report) , along with food-delivery platform DoorDash (DASH - Free Report) , rely heavily on gig workers. Similarly, the availability of platforms connecting skilled freelancers with businesses seeking support for short-term projects adds to the appeal of the gig economy theme, which is gaining popularity by the day. This demonstrates the strong appeal of independent and self-directed work.
Even tech giants like Alphabet (GOOGL - Free Report) and Amazon (AMZN - Free Report) are jumping into this trend and making the most of its convenience and flexibility. The gig economy’s continued expansion underscores its increasing importance. According to Business Research Insights, the global gig economy market is projected to reach $674.13 billion by the end of 2026. It is expected to grow to $2.52 trillion by 2035, reflecting a robust compound annual growth rate of 15.8% during the 2026-2035 period.
These projections highlight the substantial opportunities available to companies participating in the gig economy. Investors can use our thematic screens to identify stocks connected to trends that are shaping the future of investing. If the Gig Economy matches your investment preferences and you want exposure to this expanding trend, stocks such as Uber, DoorDash and Lyft may be worth monitoring.
Ready to uncover more transformative thematic investment ideas? Explore 40 cutting-edge investment themes with Zacks Thematic Investing Screens and discover your next big opportunity.
3 Stocks Worth Watching
All three stocks, discussed below, currently carry a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Uber’s gig-economy business connects independent drivers and couriers with consumers seeking rides and deliveries. Its platform provides flexible earning opportunities across more than 70 countries, allowing participants to generate income without fixed work schedules. Uber’s demand-prediction, matching, routing and payments technologies support this model by connecting workers with consumer demand. The breadth of its network helps support service availability while creating earning opportunities across different locations and times of day.
Uber’s presence in both mobility and delivery broadens its gig-economy opportunities. Beyond passenger transportation, Uber Eats connects couriers with demand for meals, groceries, convenience items and other retail products. Delivery also attracts workers who lack access to vehicles that meet the requirements for passenger rides. Meanwhile, Uber Direct extends delivery opportunities to orders placed through merchants’ own channels. Together, these services expand the potential pool of earners and can improve utilization across Uber’s network.
Attracting and retaining drivers and couriers remains essential to Uber’s gig-economy model. The company develops tools that help workers identify when and where earnings opportunities are strongest and make informed decisions about costs. It also partners with insurers and educational institutions to offer protection and learning opportunities to eligible participants.
DoorDash’s gig-economy model connects consumers and local merchants with delivery workers known as Dashers. Merchants receive orders through its marketplaces, while Dashers collect products and deliver them to customers. For the vast majority of delivery transactions, DoorDash describes its role as arranging delivery opportunities rather than controlling how the delivery service is performed. This structure makes its courier network central to translating online consumer demand into completed local deliveries.
DoorDash supports courier participation through delivery payouts, incentives and referral programs. Dasher payouts include payments for deliveries, incentives and tips, while peak-pay incentives provide additional compensation for accepting opportunities during periods of high demand. Referral bonuses help attract new participants, subject to qualifying conditions. These mechanisms help DoorDash build delivery capacity and encourage courier availability when demand rises, supporting the functioning of its gig-economy marketplace.
DoorDash’s broader local-commerce platform expands the channels through which delivery opportunities can arise. Membership programs such as DashPass, Wolt+ and Deliveroo Plus reduce delivery and service fees, potentially encouraging repeat orders. Meanwhile, Drive provides delivery fulfillment for merchants’ own sales channels, extending the company’s delivery network beyond orders originating directly on its marketplaces.
Lyft’s gig-economy focus centers on its ridesharing marketplace, which connects drivers with passengers seeking on-demand transportation. Drivers can earn on flexible schedules, making the platform accessible to participants balancing driving with education, family responsibilities, business ownership or retirement. Substantially all of Lyft’s revenues come from this marketplace, primarily through service fees and commissions collected from drivers. Consequently, maintaining an engaged driver base and sufficient ride demand is fundamental to its business.
Lyft uses predictive technology to help drivers identify when and where demand is strongest, supporting more effective use of their time. Its upfront-pay feature allows drivers to review ride information and expected earnings before accepting a trip, improving transparency. The company also provides earnings tools, educational resources and round-the-clock support. These features support driver participation, while efficient matching and dispatching help connect available drivers with riders and reduce passenger wait times.
Lyft’s Express Drive program broadens access to gig work by allowing eligible drivers without a qualifying vehicle to rent one through Flexdrive or rental partners. Its range of ride options, including standard, XL and premium services, addresses different passenger needs and creates varied opportunities for participating drivers. Lyft’s acquisition of Freenow also expanded its platform into nine additional countries and more than 180 cities in 2025, extending its reach into European taxi and mobility markets.