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Is that actually true, though? I've seen anecdotal reports from certain Uber drivers or whatnot, but I have not seen data. (It seems counterintuitive that such

Is that actually true, though? I've seen anecdotal reports from certain Uber drivers or whatnot, but I have not seen data. (It seems counterintuitive that such a huge amount of contractors would continue to choose that work over traditional employment in service jobs if it paid less.)

sct202 7y ago
Uber published a study with 2014 data here that says their drivers make ~$20/hr not including expenses which they estimate at like $3/hr https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1s08BdVqCgrZWZkV0ZfZnhGUGc/ https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1s08BdVqCgrZWZkV0ZfZnhGUGc... This MIT study says $8-10 after expenses https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/03/07/591430857/researcher-says-criticism-is-valid-will-revise-study-finding-low-uber-and-lyft-p https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/03/07/591430857... Plus given that drivers could be trying to drive when there's no demand, its very possible for people to earn below minimum wage.
- Spooky23 7y ago
  That's a long time ago. They've cut the payment substantially since then. https://www.inquirer.com/news/uber-lyft-rideshare-drivers-philadelphia-pay-cut-ipo-public-stock-strike-20190410.html https://www.inquirer.com/news/uber-lyft-rideshare-drivers-ph...
- cperciva 7y ago
  Plus given that drivers could be trying to drive when there's no demand, its very possible for people to earn below minimum wage. If you count every hour that people want to work regardless of whether their employer wants them to, there aren't many employers who pay minimum wage.
- napoleond 7y ago
  Thanks!!
jboy55 7y ago
It could be that they're not factoring in the cost and maintenance of their vehicles because they foresee this as being a temporary period of their life. They're borrowing from the future cost of their cars. From my experiences with Gig workers, I used to work in the engineering part of an early one, there will be definitely a bi-modal distribution between full time and part time workers. There will be those that will only want to 'pay a bill' with the proceeds. There will also be those that buckle down and organize their lives/finances around it. For the former, it wouldn't surprise me that they're earning less than service jobs, all in. However, the freedom of choosing one's hours really is powerful for those looking for just a few extra hundred dollars, plus the emphermeral cost against one's vehicles is easy to overlook.

sct202 7y ago

Uber published a study with 2014 data here that says their drivers make ~$20/hr not including expenses which they estimate at like $3/hr https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1s08BdVqCgrZWZkV0ZfZnhGUGc/ https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1s08BdVqCgrZWZkV0ZfZnhGUGc... This MIT study says $8-10 after expenses https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/03/07/591430857/researcher-says-criticism-is-valid-will-revise-study-finding-low-uber-and-lyft-p https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/03/07/591430857... Plus given that drivers could be trying to drive when there's no demand, its very possible for people to earn below minimum wage.

Spooky23 7y ago
That's a long time ago. They've cut the payment substantially since then. https://www.inquirer.com/news/uber-lyft-rideshare-drivers-philadelphia-pay-cut-ipo-public-stock-strike-20190410.html https://www.inquirer.com/news/uber-lyft-rideshare-drivers-ph...
cperciva 7y ago
Plus given that drivers could be trying to drive when there's no demand, its very possible for people to earn below minimum wage. If you count every hour that people want to work regardless of whether their employer wants them to, there aren't many employers who pay minimum wage.
napoleond 7y ago
Thanks!!

jboy55 7y ago

It could be that they're not factoring in the cost and maintenance of their vehicles because they foresee this as being a temporary period of their life. They're borrowing from the future cost of their cars. From my experiences with Gig workers, I used to work in the engineering part of an early one, there will be definitely a bi-modal distribution between full time and part time workers. There will be those that will only want to 'pay a bill' with the proceeds. There will also be those that buckle down and organize their lives/finances around it. For the former, it wouldn't surprise me that they're earning less than service jobs, all in. However, the freedom of choosing one's hours really is powerful for those looking for just a few extra hundred dollars, plus the emphermeral cost against one's vehicles is easy to overlook.