Gig Work in Australia and New Zealand: Flexibility, Opportunity and the Challenge of Making a Living

The gig economy has become an established part of working life on both sides of the Tasman. From delivering restaurant meals in Sydney and Auckland to seasonal farm work in regional Australia and New Zealand, millions of people now earn some or all of their income through flexible work arrangements.

For many, gig work provides welcome flexibility. For others, it has become a full-time occupation. The challenge for governments has been finding the right balance between preserving that flexibility while ensuring workers receive fair treatment and adequate protections.

What is gig work?

Gig work generally refers to short-term, task-based work rather than permanent employment. Workers usually decide when they work and how much work they accept.

Common examples include:

• Uber and rideshare driving
• Uber Eats, DoorDash and Menulog food delivery
• Pizza delivery
• Grocery delivery
• Farm labour during harvest seasons
• House cleaning
• Gardening and maintenance
• Pet sitting
• Freelance professional services

Technology platforms have dramatically expanded these opportunities by connecting customers directly with workers through smartphone apps.

Australia: Increasing protections

Australia has traditionally treated many gig workers as independent contractors rather than employees.

That distinction matters because contractors generally do not receive paid annual leave, sick leave or the full range of minimum employment entitlements enjoyed by employees.

However, Australia's workplace laws have evolved significantly. The Fair Work framework now includes protections for certain "employee-like" gig workers, particularly those working through digital platforms. The Fair Work Commission has been developing minimum standards covering areas such as pay, insurance, dispute resolution and transparency for food delivery workers.

The reforms aim to preserve flexibility while preventing a race to the bottom on pay and conditions.

New Zealand: Contractor certainty

New Zealand has taken a somewhat different path.

Recent reforms introduced a clearer "gateway test" to help determine whether someone is genuinely an independent contractor or should instead be regarded as an employee. Where the gateway test is satisfied, businesses and workers gain greater certainty about their legal relationship.

At the same time, New Zealand courts continue to examine whether some platform workers may, in certain circumstances, actually be employees despite contractual descriptions.

Farm work

Agriculture remains one of the largest sources of seasonal gig-style employment in both countries.

Australia relies heavily on:

• fruit picking
• vegetable harvesting
• vineyard work
• livestock operations

Many backpackers and temporary visa holders supplement the local workforce during peak harvest periods.

New Zealand has a similar reliance on seasonal labour for horticulture, vineyards and dairy operations.

Unlike app-based delivery work, much farm work occurs through labour hire companies or seasonal employment arrangements that often provide greater legal protections than pure platform work.

Cleaning and home services

Cleaning has become one of the fastest-growing sectors of the gig economy.

Workers may obtain clients directly or through digital platforms that match households with cleaners.

Successful cleaners frequently build repeat customers and eventually operate their own small businesses rather than remaining dependent on a platform.

For many workers this provides one of the more sustainable paths within the gig economy.

Can you make a good living?

The answer is: sometimes.

Income depends on several factors:

• hours worked
• location
• demand
• operating costs
• experience
• ability to secure repeat customers

Food delivery can provide useful supplementary income, particularly during evenings and weekends when demand is strongest. However, drivers must also meet fuel, vehicle maintenance, insurance and depreciation costs.

Farm work often pays reasonably well during busy harvest periods but tends to be seasonal rather than year-round.

Cleaning businesses can become highly profitable once workers establish a regular client base.

Many successful gig workers eventually transition from simply accepting platform jobs to operating independent businesses with loyal customers.

The future

Both Australia and New Zealand appear committed to preserving the flexibility that attracts workers while gradually strengthening legal protections.

Rather than eliminating gig work, policymakers are increasingly focused on ensuring that flexibility does not come at the expense of basic fairness.

As digital platforms continue to expand across industries, gig work is likely to remain a permanent feature of both economies.

The Australasian View

Australia and New Zealand face the same challenge: encouraging innovation without undermining workplace standards. The gig economy offers valuable opportunities for students, parents, retirees and those seeking additional income, but long-term financial security often comes from using gig work as a stepping stone rather than a destination. The workers who generally prosper are those who leverage the flexibility of platform work to build their own businesses, develop specialised skills and cultivate repeat customers beyond any single app