ISLAMABAD, Nov 25 (Wealth Pakistan): Pakistan’s digital platform workers, also known as gig workers, make up 2.9 percent of total employment in 2024-25. This finding comes from the latest Labour Force Survey released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics and shows the growing presence of platform-based work in the economy.
Growth of platform-based work
The survey provides updated estimates of people working through digital platforms. According to the Labour Force Survey 2024-25 document available with Wealth Pakistan, gig workers include those who rely mainly on platform work and those who use it as a secondary income source. Because of the flexible nature of gig work, many workers complete tasks without formal contracts.
Physical and online gig activities
The survey shows that 97.1 percent of gig workers perform physical work. This includes delivery services, transport services and labour tasks arranged through mobile applications. Only 2.9 percent of gig workers perform online tasks. These tasks include freelance work, digital content creation and other remote services.
Gender patterns in gig work
The survey records gender differences in gig work. Around 3.0 percent of employed males take part in online gig work, while 2.5 percent of employed females do the same. Although both men and women work through digital platforms, overall participation remains limited. The survey includes provincial totals for platform-based work but does not separate physical and online gig work at the provincial level.
Subsidiary gig workers
The Labour Force Survey also reports on workers who take up gig activities alongside a primary job. These secondary tasks include transport-related work, online services, delivery work and other platform-based activities. Provincial data shows variation in how workers engage in secondary gig tasks.
Alignment with international labour standards
The survey includes gig work after Pakistan adopted updated international guidelines under the 19th and 21st International Conference of Labour Statisticians frameworks. Because of this shift, the 2024-25 questionnaire now includes questions on digital platform work, unpaid domestic activities and freedom of association. These changes align Pakistan’s labour statistics with global practices.
Survey coverage and data collection
The Labour Force Survey collected data through interviews with 53,974 households across the country. Field teams visited 3,796 primary sampling units, including both urban and rural areas. The survey includes responses from individuals aged ten years and above. Population estimates are based on the 2023 census, with annual adjustments for growth.
Key takeaway
Although gig workers form a small share of the workforce, the survey offers the first detailed national measurement of digital platform employment under updated labour standards. The findings show that most gig workers perform physical tasks through digital apps, while a smaller group provides online services. These insights present a clear picture of Pakistan’s emerging gig labour market.