India's gig internet workforce to triple to 20 million by 2030, could bridge 70% of non-farm jobs gap

India's platform driven gig economy could become one of the country's biggest employment engines over the next five years, with the number of monthly active gig internet workers projected to nearly triple from over 6 million today to 17-21 million by 2030. According to a Redseer Strategy Consultants report, this expansion could help bridge nearly 70% of India's annual non-farm job creation requirement, positioning gig work as a critical pillar of the country's workforce.

The report estimates that India's gig internet workforce, spanning delivery, ride hailing and home services, will expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 24-29% through the end of the decade. More than 30% of the projected workforce is expected to comprise first time entrants into the labour market, highlighting the sector's growing role in expanding employment opportunities beyond traditional jobs.

Today, India has around 14 million gig workers across occupations, of whom roughly 6 million are active every month on internet-based platforms. That compares with nearly 1 million monthly active workers in 2020, reflecting the rapid rise of app-based work over the past five years.

"The past decade has seen gig internet emerge as a critical pillar of the country's workforce. By connecting workers to flexible, on demand earning opportunities at scale, these platforms have opened a new and accessible path to livelihood for India's formal and informal workforce," said Anil Kumar, founder and CEO of Redseer Strategy Consultants.

Flexibility remains the biggest draw

The report emphasises that flexibility, rather than permanence, is the defining feature of gig work. Based on a survey of 2,250 workers, around 90% deliberately choose part-time engagement of less than 40 hours a week, while the average worker spends roughly five hours a day, three days a week and about three months a year on gig platforms.

More than half, or around 54%, of surveyed workers were not in paid employment before joining a gig platform, indicating that the sector is bringing new workers into the labour force. Nearly 70% also believe gig work improves their future job prospects by helping them build transferable skills and work experience. Many use the platforms as a temporary source of income to fund education, migration or career transitions before moving into full-time employment or entrepreneurship.

The report also finds that full-time gig workers earn substantially more than comparable workers in the formal and informal economy. Average hourly earnings stand at around ₹138 compared with ₹54 for comparable occupations, while monthly net earnings average about ₹32,000 versus ₹13,000, or roughly 2.5 times higher. Home services workers earn ₹70,000-80,000 a month, ride hailing workers ₹37,000-39,000 and delivery workers ₹22,000-23,000.

At the same time, welfare coverage is becoming more structured. According to Redseer, gig platforms increasingly provide accident insurance, emergency support and skill development, while access to health insurance, maternity benefits, credit facilitation and education assistance is gradually expanding. However, awareness of these benefits remains moderate, and female participation in the sector is still only around 1%, leaving significant room for broader inclusion.