India’s gig workforce faces a career crossroads as millions seek pathways beyond short term work

Primus Partners report examines income trends, skill gaps, and mobility challenges impacting 23.5 million young workers

India’s gig workforce is at a pivotal stage, with millions of young workers navigating limited income progression and uncertain long term mobility, according to a new report released by Primus Partners. Titled Unlocking the Future: Finding a Path for 23.5 Million Indian Youth to Transition Beyond the Gig Economy, the report analyses income patterns, skilling gaps, and social protection challenges shaping the careers of gig workers across the country.

The study highlights that while digital platforms have enabled large scale employment absorption, income growth remains constrained for a large segment of the workforce. More than 60 percent of surveyed gig workers reported working full time hours, with average monthly earnings of approximately ₹22,500. Income increases were found to be primarily driven by longer working hours rather than structured skill advancement or role progression.

According to the report, early entry into gig work, often immediately after completing school, can have a lasting impact on career trajectories. In the absence of formal skilling or transition pathways, many workers continue in similar roles through their mid twenties, even as financial responsibilities increase. The findings suggest that without intervention, this pattern could limit long term productivity growth and income security.
Social protection gaps also remain a key concern. The study notes that 31 percent of gig workers surveyed lacked access to basic protections such as insurance, pension coverage, or savings linked benefits. Workers who reported access to training and basic protections also indicated higher levels of financial stability and improved earning potential, reinforcing the link between skill development and income mobility.

Commenting on the findings, Nilaya Varma, Co Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Primus Partners, said, “The gig economy has created scale and flexibility in India’s labour market. The next phase must focus on enabling skill development, income progression, and mobility so that gig work becomes a stepping stone to more sustainable livelihoods.”

The report outlines opportunities to strengthen the gig ecosystem through structured skilling pathways, portable benefits, and clearer transition mechanisms into higher value roles. Aligning platform operators, policymakers, and industry stakeholders around these priorities, it notes, will be critical to unlocking stronger workforce outcomes over the coming decade.

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