New York City Ranked Fifth in Side-Hustle Capital Index
Local business operators should note that gig work has become a primary income source for a significant share of the workforce.
Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Remote Work
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The New York-Newark-Jersey City metropolitan area ranked fifth in Giggster's national Side-Hustle Capital Index, which evaluated business density and earnings. Data shows that 20% of New Yorkers relied on gig apps for financial support over the past year.
Why it matters
The reliance on platform work has increased as residents seek additional income, with half of surveyed gig workers identifying these platforms as their primary income source. For operators, this indicates a shift in labor availability and competition for flexible, supplemental work.
New York City placed 5th in the index, trailing Miami, while 51% of gig workers now treat platform work as their main income source. Additionally, 20% of New Yorkers relied on these apps for financial support, with delivery workers currently guaranteed a minimum of $22.13 per hour.
The players
Giggster
A marketplace platform that facilitates the booking of creative spaces and generates industry research on gig economy trends.
Community Service Society of New York
A non-profit organization focused on research and advocacy regarding economic opportunity and workforce policy in New York.
The details
Giggster's ranking methodology incorporates business density, worker earnings, and local purchasing power to gauge the viability of secondary income streams. Digital platforms incentivize participation through real-time alerts, bonuses, and algorithmic supervision, which effectively compete with traditional hourly roles for local labor. The current economic environment has pushed this reliance further, particularly for residents who find steady, full-time employment difficult to secure.
Timeline
Survey data was collected from 4,000 New York state residents during September and October 2025.
A related report on gig reliance was published by the Community Service Society of New York in April 2026.
Market Landscape
This ranking tracks with findings from the Community Service Society of New York, which documented deep-seated reliance on gig platforms across the state. The data reflects a broader competitive trend where businesses must contend with a labor pool increasingly anchored to flexible, app-based income streams.
Business owners should adjust hiring strategies to account for the fact that 51% of gig workers treat platform work as their primary income. Monitoring wage competition remains critical, given that delivery workers are already covered by a $22.13 hourly minimum.
The takeaway
Operators must recognize that gig platforms are now a primary, not secondary, competitor for talent in the local market. Track whether local hourly wage growth is keeping pace with the earnings potential offered by flexible app-based platforms.
Further reading
For more on shifts in the local workforce, visit the Remote Work section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Amsterdam News.
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