Canada had 871,000 gig workers in the fourth quarter of 2022 in their main job, Statistics Canada reported today. It also measured how many workers use a digital app to obtain work.

In defining gig work, Statistics Canada turned to the United National Economic Commission for Europe’s Handbook on Forms of Employment.

The agency noted gig work is a form of employment characterized by short-term jobs or tasks; it does not guarantee steady work, and the worker must take specific actions to stay employed. Gig workers can use online digital platforms to obtain work, but gig work can also be obtained without using such a platform.

Of the 871,000 gig workers in the fourth quarter of 2022 whose main job had characteristics consistent with gig work, 624,000 were self-employed. Another 247,000 were paid employees in a job with gig characteristics.

Of the self-employed gig workers, there were two categories: those who worked very short hours or operated their business intermittently, 91,000 workers, and those who usually dedicated more time to their business but did not have a stable client base, 449,000. In addition, 84,000 self-employed workers had characteristics of both groups.

Statistics Canada also reported that in 2023, there were 468,000 people who worked through a digital platform which also paid them for their work. These were workers who used a platform app within the preceding 12 months.

Not all platforms pay workers directly; some simply connect workers with jobs and let the workers and clients set up payment arrangements, Statistics Canada noted. Under the broad definition of gig work with platforms that directly pay workers and those that don’t, 927,000 people (3.3% of the population aged 15 to 69 years old) engaged in digital platform work in the 12 months preceding December 2023.