The Gig Economy in Georgia: How On-Demand Work Is Expanding and What It Means for the Labor Market

The gig economy — short-term, task-based work often facilitated by digital platforms — is growing steadily in Georgia. Services like Wolt, Bolt, Glovo, Freelancer, and Upwork are creating new employment channels, offering flexible schedules and project-based income to a rising number of workers. In this model, traditional employment contracts are replaced by task-by-task arrangements, with individuals getting paid per delivery, ride, or completed freelance assignment.

While the sector is expanding, official data on gig workers in Georgia remains limited. Gig work is often unregistered and informal, making it difficult to quantify its real size. According to 2023 data from Geostat, over 46% of employed people in Georgia were self-employed, but this broad category does not distinguish between traditional self-employment and digital gig work. Most platform workers are not registered as individual entrepreneurs and are excluded from tax records, pension contributions, and labor regulations.

The most visible share of Georgia’s gig economy is concentrated in delivery and ride-hailing services. Couriers and drivers working for Wolt or Bolt Food, for example, generally earn between 1,200 and 2,000 GEL per month, depending on the number of hours worked, delivery bonuses, and seasonal demand. Many work more than 8–10 hours daily to achieve stable earnings. While this income may provide short-term flexibility, it comes with long-term uncertainty.

On digital freelancing platforms like Upwork and Freelancer, Georgians offer services in design, writing, IT, and more, competing in a global market. These platforms can provide higher income potential, especially for those with technical skills, but also involve high competition and no social protection.

A key issue across the gig economy is the absence of labor rights. Platform workers in Georgia do not receive paid leave, sick pay, maternity benefits, or employer-sponsored health insurance. Since many are unregistered, they are also excluded from mandatory pension contributions, limiting future income security.

Georgia currently lacks a legal framework that specifically recognizes gig workers as a separate category. Unlike in some EU countries, where courts and legislators are debating whether platforms should be classified as employers with obligations to workers, in Georgia gig platforms operate in a regulatory vacuum. Workers are considered independent contractors, without collective bargaining rights or protection under standard labor laws.

Nevertheless, the gig economy is becoming an increasingly important part of the labor market. It offers opportunities for students, career changers, and people seeking additional income or flexible schedules. But it also raises concerns about wage volatility, job security, and lack of protections.

As the sector grows, Georgia faces a policy crossroads. Capturing gig work in official statistics, defining legal status, and providing basic social protections are now key steps toward balancing flexibility with fairness. The future of work is already here — the question is whether the labor system can catch up.