When it comes to gig platforms in Africa, the loudest stories tend to live at the extremes. On one end, we hear about the breakout successes – the gig worker who turned a side hustle into a thriving business. On the other, we’re reminded of the harsh realities – platforms accused of failing to deliver decent work or liveable wages. Both narratives are true, and both are important. But in focusing on the extremes, we risk overlooking the ordinary: the quiet majority of gig workers who earn just a little, every now and then.
Over the past four years, the Jobtech Alliance has gathered earnings data on tens of thousands of gig workers across the continent. Again and again, the data pointed to a striking reality: the largest share of workers earn only small, supplementary amounts — what we call micro-earning. This prompted us to look more closely, moving beyond the numbers to explore who these micro-earners are, why they earn what they do, and what role platforms play in their livelihoods.
