Just now
National trends show that Americans are worried about higher prices and their financial wellbeing, and that more people are taking on part-time work in order to earn extra money. Many are choosing work that allows them to have more flexibility around their own schedule.
To better understand these trends, we commissioned two polls with the help of Morning Consult, Benenson Strategy Group, and GS Strategy Group across a key set of “battleground” states — states that will be a focus during the 2024 presidential election campaigns and which could ultimately determine the election. The first poll surveyed voters in battleground states broadly about their economic sentiments and policy preferences. The second surveyed drivers and couriers that use Uber in battleground states about the economy and their views on app-based work like ridesharing and food delivery.
The results offer useful insights into how voters and drivers view important policy questions, with the majority agreeing that independent contractor status is critical for rideshare and delivery workers, and that app-based work helps them make extra money.
Cost of living in the spotlight
The increase in cost of living is set to be top of mind for voters in this year’s elections. Among voters in battleground states, 29% ranked inflation as the top issue impacting their 2024 vote for president, and another 22% ranked the economy as their top issue.
Voters’ outlook on the health of the economy is negative: 45% said economic conditions are poor, and 40% expect them to worsen this year, compared to just 26% who said conditions will improve. Drivers and couriers agree, with 46% expecting economic conditions to worsen.
Notably, drivers and voters differed in how they rated their personal financial outlooks. About 70% of drivers said they expect their financial situation to be better a year from now, while only 23% of voters overall said they are optimistic about their financial futures. Having the ability to earn money flexibly on platforms like Uber may help explain some of this difference.
App-based platforms as financial lifelines
Both drivers and voters overall in battleground states see value in app-based work, such as ridesharing and delivery, as a flexible source of additional income.
About 86% of voters said that keeping up with the rising cost of living is a compelling reason for app-based work. Another 80% thought that app-based work offers a helpful solution for those who want to make more money flexibly. And 15% of voters said they are already earning on app-based platforms.
Drivers themselves feel even stronger: 88% said they drive to keep up with the cost of living, and 91% said that they value the flexibility from driving that doesn’t come with traditional jobs. That includes the ability to set one’s own work schedule, use multiple app-based platforms at the same time, and to drive as much as needed to meet individual financial goals. As of Q4 2023, drivers in the US made about $33 per utilized hour — extra income that drivers like Lloyd Miller from Green Bay and Emilee Rogers from Las Vegas used this past holiday season in order to pay for gifts for their families and food for the holidays.
Many voters are interested in app-based earning
Amid widespread cost of living concerns, app-based platforms hold wide appeal among battleground state voters. A majority of voters overall — 54% — said they are interested in exploring driving or delivering to make money. Younger (ages 18–34) and Black voters are most interested in this kind of work.
Battleground state voters who are already earning on a full- or part-time basis:
- 29% of 18- to 34-year-old voters
- 23% of Black voters
- 15% of voters overall
Interested in app-based work:
- 79% of 18- to 34-year-old voters
- 68% of Black voters
- 54% of voters overall
Drivers and voters believe that flexibility is critical
76% of surveyed voters in battleground states say that app-based workers should not be classified as employees, either preferring that they remain independent contractors or be classified as a new status that ensures flexibility combined with more protections. According to current drivers, the vast majority (74%) say they prefer to be classified as independent contractors, and 66% said they would be more likely to support a candidate for office who supports maintaining flexibility for this kind of work.
Methodology
This data is from two surveys conducted during November and December of 2023.
The first survey was conducted between November 15–25 among a sample of registered voters in Arizona (N=800), Florida (N=801), Georgia (N=1,000), Michigan (N=700), Minnesota (N=600), Nevada (N=350), North Carolina (N=800), Ohio (N=800), Pennsylvania (N=802), Virginia (N=704), and Wisconsin (N=700). Results from the full survey have a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percentage points. The interviews were conducted online, and the data was weighted to approximate a target sample of registered voters in each state based on gender, age, race/ethnicity, marital status, home ownership, and 2020 presidential vote.
The second survey was conducted between November 16–December 7 among a sample of 1579 drivers that use the Uber app in Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Wisconsin. Results from the survey have a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points. The interviews were conducted online.