Gig Work Is a Lifeline—But Delayed Pay Is the Achilles’ Heel
In an economy that increasingly runs on gig labor, a new report from payroll platform Everee sounds the alarm on a growing disconnect: while rideshare and delivery drivers are shouldering essential work, they’re still waiting days to get paid—and it’s costing them.
Everee’s 2025 Gig Driver Report, based on a survey of over 400 U.S. gig drivers, paints a sharp picture of what motivates this workforce and what’s driving them away. Flexibility still reigns supreme, but when delayed payments can mean missing rent or borrowing from friends, the promise of gig freedom starts to ring hollow.
Gig Work: The Main Hustle, Not a Side One
Forget the “side hustle” narrative. For a growing number of drivers, gig platforms are their main source of income:
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27% say driving is a full-time job
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59% say gig work makes up at least half their income
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66% use gig earnings for bills and essentials
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Only 28% are using earnings for emergency savings
These stats make one thing clear: gig drivers aren’t stashing cash for hobbies—they’re staying afloat.
Payment Delays Are More Than an Inconvenience
Despite depending on gig income, many drivers are left in financial limbo waiting for payouts. This isn’t about impatience—it’s about survival:
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65% have borrowed money while waiting to get paid
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53% delayed a bill or skipped an essential purchase
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30% say losing same-day pay access would cause serious hardship
In a market saturated with gig platforms competing for driver loyalty, slow pay isn’t just a UX problem—it’s a retention killer.
Why Same-Day Pay Could Be the New Platform Differentiator
The message from drivers is clear: faster payouts = greater loyalty. With 57% saying immediate access to earnings heavily influences which platform they work for, this could become a major battleground for gig companies.
And with 68% of drivers juggling multiple apps monthly, switching costs are low—and frustrations are high. As Chris Heffernan, CEO of delivery platform dlivrd, puts it: “Small changes like faster pay and better earnings visibility can make a big difference in retention.”
Contractor Status Still Wins—For Now
Despite financial instability, gig drivers aren’t clamoring for traditional employment. A strong 77% prefer to remain independent contractors. Only 19% would choose full-time employment with fixed hours and benefits, reinforcing that flexibility still trumps structure—for now.
But that flexibility must come with trust and transparency. Without better payment systems, gig platforms risk burning out their most vital resource.
Bigger Picture: The Economics of Speed
Everee’s report surfaces a critical HR and fintech convergence point: real-time payroll isn’t just a nice-to-have for staffing the gig economy—it’s a strategic necessity. As inflationary pressures continue and more workers depend on flexible income to cover non-flexible expenses, platforms slow to adopt real-time or on-demand pay solutions could find themselves short-staffed when it matters most.
For enterprise HR leaders and workforce tech providers, the takeaway is simple: flexibility alone doesn’t guarantee loyalty—liquidity does.
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