Alberta tops list of people doing 'gig work' as main job: StatsCan

They're the people who pick you up in an Uber or deliver groceries to your door — and about five per cent of Alberta's workers do so-called "gig work" in their primary job, according to a new report from Statistics Canada.

Gig work, as defined by the report, refers to employment that is characterized by short-term jobs or tasks, and which doesn't guarantee steady work and where the worker "must take specific actions to stay employed."

An estimated 116,700 working Albertans between the ages of 15 and 69 took on jobs that featured those characteristics consistent with the concept of gig work in the final three months of 2022, according to the latest data available.

Ontario saw 4.7 per cent of its workers taking on gig work in their main job, while British Columbia saw 3.6 per cent. 

The data comes from Statistics Canada's Labour Force Surveys (LFS) in 2022 and 2023. All estimates are associated with a margin of error.

In Ontario and B.C., legislation has been introduced to respond to the growing share of the workforce who participate in such work.

In B.C., the provincial government introduced proposed new standards for gig workers in November 2023, which would see a minimum wage, tip protection and workers' compensation coverage introduced. However, some critics, including the B.C. Federation of Labour, have said those measures don't go far enough.

The discussion has been going on even longer in Ontario.

Last month, dozens of ride-share and food-delivery drivers in Toronto staged a strike after a joint report from Ridefair Toronto and the Rideshare Drivers Association of Ontario suggested Toronto drivers could make as little as $6 an hour. Uber has disputed those numbers.

Despite the fact that Alberta appears to be near the top of the list of the Statistics Canada report, neither legislation nor job action has materialized in the province.

In a statement to CBC News, a spokesperson for Matt Jones, Alberta's minister of jobs, economy and trade, said app-based ride-hailing and food-delivery services provide flexible earning opportunities for Albertans and convenience for customers, while contributing to the province's economy.

"Alberta's government continues to review information on how labour laws may affect this sector and to monitor developments in other jurisdictions," the statement reads. 

"Occupational health and safety laws already apply to this sector while other labour laws may apply in certain situations."

It's possible that what's been taking place demographically may be part of Alberta's position atop the StatsCan list, said Eric Myers, a professor of human resources and finance at Calgary's Mount Royal University.