Jobs
The impact of the gig economy on the Indian workforce
The gig economy has emerged as a transformative force in India, fundamentally altering the way people work, how businesses operate, and the structure of employment itself. Characterized by short-term contracts, freelance work, and flexible working hours, the gig economy provides an alternative to traditional full-time employment, and it is reshaping the Indian workforce at an unprecedented scale.
With the proliferation of digital platforms like Uber, Zomato, Swiggy, and Upwork, the gig economy is rapidly expanding, offering a range of opportunities across various industries. While it presents significant advantages like flexibility and income potential for workers, it also raises concerns about job security, benefits, and long-term financial stability. As India positions itself as a major player in the global economy, understanding the impact of the gig economy on its workforce is crucial for the country’s socio-economic development.
Rise of the gig economy in India
India, with its large and young labor force, has witnessed an exponential rise in gig work over the past decade. According to a report by the Boston Consulting Group, around 15 million people were engaged in gig work in India as of 2022. This number is expected to grow substantially as more individuals opt for freelance and contract-based work over conventional employment.
Several factors have contributed to the growth of the gig economy in India. The rapid penetration of smartphones and internet connectivity has made it easier for people to access digital platforms that connect gig workers with employers. Moreover, changing attitudes toward work, especially among millennials and Gen Z, have led to a preference for flexibility, autonomy, and the ability to work on multiple projects rather than committing to a single employer.
Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the gig economy’s growth, as many traditional businesses were forced to adapt to remote work and embrace a more flexible workforce. Companies, especially in sectors like food delivery, e-commerce, and IT services, turned to gig workers to meet demand surges, further driving the shift towards non-traditional employment.
Benefits of the gig economy for workers
One of the primary attractions of the gig economy is the flexibility it offers. Workers have the freedom to choose when, where, and how much they want to work, which is especially appealing to those who value work-life balance. This model also provides opportunities for individuals to explore diverse skill sets, take on multiple roles, and earn income from different sources, all without being tied to a full-time job.
For many people, the gig economy serves as a means to earn supplemental income, whether they are students, homemakers, or professionals looking for extra work. In regions with limited full-time job opportunities, gig work allows individuals to tap into the global market and secure freelance projects, reducing regional employment disparities.
Furthermore, the gig economy has been instrumental in promoting entrepreneurship, especially among the youth. Many young workers are now able to start their own businesses, offer specialised services, or work as consultants, thanks to the ease with which they can connect with clients through digital platforms.
Challenges for gig workers
Despite its advantages, the gig economy presents several challenges, particularly around income stability and job security. Gig workers often lack access to essential benefits such as health insurance, pensions, and paid leave, which are standard in traditional employment. The absence of a formal employment contract can leave gig workers vulnerable to exploitation, with low pay, irregular hours, and limited bargaining power.
Income volatility is another significant concern. While some gig workers can earn a substantial income, many face unpredictable earnings due to fluctuations in demand or competition with other freelancers. This uncertainty can make it difficult for workers to plan for long-term financial goals or manage their expenses effectively.
Additionally, the lack of social security benefits like provident fund contributions or access to unemployment insurance means that gig workers are left unprotected in times of crisis. This was evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, where many gig workers lost their income due to restrictions on movement, with limited government support to fall back on.
Impact on the broader workforce
The gig economy’s rise is also influencing traditional employment models in India. Companies are increasingly adopting hybrid workforce models, where they rely on a mix of full-time employees and gig workers to achieve greater operational flexibility. While this may lead to cost savings for businesses, it also raises concerns about the future of full-time jobs and the growing casualisation of labor.
On a larger scale, the gig economy is contributing to changes in labor policies and regulations in India. The government has recognized the need to provide gig workers with some level of social security and has introduced schemes like the Code on Social Security, 2020, which includes provisions for gig and platform workers. However, the effective implementation of such policies remains a challenge.
Conclusion
The gig economy offers both opportunities and challenges for the Indian workforce. While it provides workers with flexibility, autonomy, and access to new income streams, it also raises concerns about job security, benefits, and income stability. As the gig economy continues to expand, it will be essential for policymakers, businesses, and workers to find a balance that ensures both flexibility and protection for gig workers. By addressing these challenges, India can harness the potential of the gig economy while safeguarding the rights and well-being of its workforce.
The article has been authored by Judge India president and Judge Group, global delivery, Abhishek Agarwal.
Jobs
Is 2026 shaping up to be another year of mass layoffs?
Nearly 160,000 jobs have already been cut across 145 companies in the first nine weeks of 2026 as AI adoption, corporate consolidation and organisational “flattening” reshape the global workforce.
MUMBAI: If 2025 was widely labelled the “year of the efficiency drive”, 2026 is beginning to look like something even more consequential. Companies across industries are no longer just trimming costs; they are fundamentally redesigning how organisations operate.
In the first 60 days of 2026, more than 145 global corporations have announced layoffs affecting nearly 160,000 employees. The pace and breadth of these cuts suggest the workforce reset that began in 2025 has not slowed. Instead, it is evolving into a structural shift in the global labour market.
Corporate leaders are also becoming more direct about the reasons behind these moves. While macroeconomic uncertainty once dominated earnings calls, executives are now openly citing AI-led automation, organisational flattening and industry consolidation as the forces driving job reductions.
Unlike the layoffs of 2025, which were largely reactive, the cuts in 2026 appear far more calculated. Businesses are eliminating roles to redirect capital towards artificial intelligence infrastructure, automation technologies and leaner organisational structures.
The media industry offers one of the clearest examples of this transformation. The newsroom at The Washington Postunderwent a dramatic restructuring in February 2026, eliminating more than 300 journalists, roughly one-third of its newsroom. The move included shutting down bureaus in the Middle East, India and Australia while discontinuing dedicated sports coverage. Former editors described the cuts as one of the most difficult moments in the publication’s recent history.
In India, Sony Pictures Networks India also announced layoffs affecting about 10 per cent of its workforce, largely targeting senior roles in distribution and channel marketing. The move reflected a subdued advertising market as well as the company’s shift towards a more integrated digital-first business model.
Industry consolidation is also fuelling job anxiety. The proposed $111 billion merger between Paramount Global and Warner Bros. Discovery is expected to trigger thousands of redundancies as overlapping streaming platforms, marketing teams and newsroom operations are consolidated. Analysts believe departments associated with CNN and CBS Newscould face restructuring once integration begins.
The technology sector remains the epicentre of the restructuring wave. At Block Inc., co-founded by Jack Dorsey, the company announced plans to eliminate 4,000 jobs — nearly 40 per cent of its workforce. Dorsey stated that new AI-powered “intelligence tools” allow smaller teams to accomplish work that previously required far larger organisations.
Meanwhile, Amazon has continued its multi-year efficiency drive. The company recently cut over 100 white-collar roles from its robotics division, affecting teams responsible for building warehouse robots and automation systems used across its fulfilment centres. The teams develop robotic arms and conveyor technologies designed to improve efficiency inside warehouses.
The layoffs were first reported by Business Insider and later confirmed by Reuters. Amazon said it routinely reviews its organisational structure to ensure teams remain aligned with innovation and customer delivery goals. The company did not disclose the exact number of roles affected.
The robotics cuts are part of a broader restructuring that has been underway for months. Since October, when Amazon initiated layoffs affecting roughly 14,000 corporate employees, the company has eliminated nearly 30,000 white-collar roles. These reductions are linked to efficiency gains driven by artificial intelligence as well as efforts to streamline internal processes.
The restructuring has also coincided with strategic shifts in Amazon’s robotics development. Earlier this year, the company paused work on “Blue Jay,” a robotic arm system unveiled at a previous technology event. The multi-arm robot was designed to pick multiple items simultaneously in tight warehouse environments but development of the project was halted in January.
Beyond robotics, Amazon has also trimmed smaller numbers of roles across its devices and services, books, podcasts and public relations teams, reflecting a broader effort to recalibrate spending priorities. Even with these cuts, corporate layoffs represent a small share of Amazon’s global workforce, which stands at around 1.5 million employees, the majority of whom work in fulfilment centres and other hourly roles.
Other technology companies are following similar paths. Meta Platforms has reduced roughly 10 per cent of its Reality Labs workforce even as it commits $40 billion towards expanding AI infrastructure. Platforms such as Pinterest and eBay have also cut hundreds of roles while redirecting investment into artificial intelligence development.
Automation is simultaneously transforming sectors outside technology. Logistics giant United Parcel Service has announced plans to eliminate up to 30,000 jobs in 2026 as it expands automated sorting facilities and deploys new delivery technologies. The shift is expected to generate about $2 billion in annual savings.
The financial sector is undergoing similar adjustments. Morgan Stanley has cut about 2,500 jobs across investment banking and wealth management, even as the firm reported strong revenues.
Three structural forces are driving the current wave of layoffs. The first is the rapid shift from AI experimentation to AI deployment at scale, where automation is replacing routine analytical, administrative and coding tasks.
The second is organisational flattening. Companies such as ASML and Citigroup are removing layers of middle management to create leaner corporate structures. Analysts estimate that director and senior manager roles account for nearly 45 per cent of corporate layoffs this year, highlighting the dismantling of the traditional middle-management layer.
The third trend is what economists describe as “invisible unemployment.” While layoffs dominate headlines, hiring freezes are quietly tightening the job market. Surveys indicate that around 66 per cent of CEOs do not plan to increase headcount in 2026, leaving displaced workers and new graduates facing fewer opportunities.
The ripple effects are already being felt in the broader economy. In India, investors are reassessing the outlook for technology-driven cities such as Bengaluru and Hyderabad, where real estate stocks tied to the tech sector have reportedly fallen by as much as 20 per cent amid concerns that slower hiring could weaken demand for premium housing and office space.
In the United States, the unemployment rate remains around 4.3 per cent, but economists caution that the full impact of layoffs may not yet be visible because severance packages keep employees on payroll for months after job cuts are announced.
Taken together, these developments suggest that the wave of layoffs seen over the past two years may not be a temporary correction but part of a deeper transformation in the global workforce. As corporations prioritise AI investment, operational efficiency and leaner organisational structures, the question facing employees and policymakers alike is becoming increasingly urgent: is 2026 truly shaping up to be another year defined by layoffs?
