Gig Work in Pakistan – What the Latest LFS 2025 Tells Us

New analysis from the Labor Force Survey 2025 shows that gig work has become a significant part of Pakistan’s labour market.

2.39 million Pakistanis are engaged in gig work —
2.2 million as main work and 0.19 million as subsidiary work.

But what exactly are they doing?

The LFS provides a breakdown of gig activities by occupation and gender.

The results reveal a surprisingly diverse gig economy — far beyond ride-hailing apps.

The largest group of gig workers is involved in teaching and tuition, with an estimated around 425,000 people earning through tutoring or educational services.

Close behind are two major categories:

Selling goods, which engages about 402,000 gig workers, and

Taxi and transport services, which also account for approximately 402,000 workers.

These two categories reflect the strong presence of small-scale commerce and transport-based work in the informal labour market.

Freelancing is another significant area, with around 342,000 workers involved in digital or project-based online work — highlighting the continued expansion of Pakistan’s digital economy.

Delivery services employ nearly 292,000 gig workers, driven by the growth of e-commerce and app-based logistics.

A smaller but important segment is medical and health-related gig work, involving about 100,000 people, including community health workers and private medical support staff.

Other key categories include:

On-location services, such as electricians, plumbers, beauticians, and technicians, employing about 112,000 workers.

Digital content creation — YouTube, TikTok, vlogging — involving around 134,000 individuals who now form part of Pakistan’s growing creator economy.

Renting services, which include equipment or vehicle rentals, with about 67,000 workers.

Finally, other miscellaneous services make up about 119,500 gig workers, covering a range of small-scale and informal activities not captured elsewhere.