Key dates in the history of the gig economy, according to the Pew Research Center and Small Business Trends, are: Early 1900s: Jazz musicians earn money from “gigs.” 1930s: Farmers lose land and become migrant workers. 1940s: Temporary staff agencies open. 1990s: Contractors and temps make up 10% of the workforce.
: With origins in early 20th-century jazz clubs, the gig economy now includes a significant portion of the U.S. workforce. Key dates in the history of the gig economy, according to the Pew Research Center and Small Business Trends, are: Early 1900s: Jazz musicians earn money from “gigs.” 1930s: Farmers lose land and become migrant workers. 1940s: Temporary staff agencies open. 1990s: Contractors and temps make up 10% of the workforce. Late 1990s: The digital era spawns remote job platforms. 2021: Gig employment includes a third of workers.