The holiday season ramped up in December and the gig economy responded in intriguing ways that impacted rideshare and food delivery earnings across the United States.
Our team of data analysts closely examined how the ramp up of the holiday season may have influenced earnings trends, uncovering key insights into the impact of seasonal demand on gig economy drivers.
The Solo Market Pulse provides a snapshot of key trends and insights within the gig economy, helping drivers stay informed and make data-driven decisions to maximize their earnings.
In this blog post, we analyze December’s performance for rideshare and food delivery drivers across the United States, including hourly earnings, state-by-state comparisons, and the impact of seasonal trends.
Whether you're looking to understand which days of the week offer the highest earnings, how your state compares to others, or how the holiday season influences gig work, this report offers valuable insights to help you thrive in the ever-evolving gig economy!
The Solo Market Pulse Report aims to bridge the gap between drivers and the information they need to make informed decisions about their gig work businesses.
Check out the numbers for December in Solo’s Market Pulse to see how gig economy earnings for rideshare and food delivery have changed month-over-month!
To get more localized insights for your city or state on a regular basis, download the Solo app today! Our data insights are unparalleled and can help you make highly informed decisions about when and how to work.
Rideshare Trends and Earnings in the Gig Economy in December 2024
In December, rideshare workers experienced significant shifts and fluctuations (mostly dependent on state/region). Some of these fluctuations were positive, with the highest month-over-month percentage increase being nearly 27% in a state in the midwest. However, some of the fluctuations meant significant decreases in hourly earnings month-over-month–in one northwestern state, the impact showed nearly a 17% decrease in hourly earnings. Overall, nationwide rideshare earnings increased by roughly 3% month-over-month.
Washington ($32.24/hour), Alaska ($29.06/hour), and Minnesota ($26.13/hour) were the states with the highest average earnings per hour for rideshare drivers during the month of December.
View the chart below to see comparisons between states for December average hourly earnings. States with the highest average earnings per hour for rideshare drivers are colored in a deep blue, while states with the lowest average earnings per hour for rideshare drivers are colored in a lighter color.
Each month, our team of analysts reviews how rideshare earnings are changing month-to-month in each state.This data helps us monitor trends within the gig economy, and we report our findings to allow rideshare drivers on platforms like Uber and Lyft to better understand earnings opportunities within the industry.
Overall, earnings month-over-month remained relatively stable in many states with a roughly 3% increase nationwide for rideshare.
However, a few states saw significant changes when it came to their earnings per hour compared to last month. Such insights are crucial for those engaged in the gig economy who depend on rideshare as their primary source of income.
One trend that stood out to our analysts was the significant decrease in rideshare earnings month-over-month in states like Montana and Kentucky. Both of these states are prone to severe winter weather, possibly resulting in temporary dips in rideshare demand (riders) and supply (drivers).
Month-Over-Month Increases in Rideshare Earnings
- Minnesota saw the largest increase in rideshare earnings, with a +26.84% jump, moving from $20.60 in November to $26.13 per hour in December.
- South Dakota and North Dakota also had strong gains of +10.85% and +10.23%, respectively.
- Alaska (+9.50%) and Delaware (+8.70%) showed notable increases, as well.
Month-Over-Month Decreases in Rideshare Earnings
- Montana experienced the largest drop, with a -16.51% decrease in earnings, going from $24.04 to $20.07 per hour.
- Kentucky also faced a significant decline at -9%, bringing the average earnings for rideshare drivers in the state to $18.71 per hour.
- Mississippi and Vermont both saw decreases of over 5% month-over-month, as well.
Want to boost your rideshare earnings and stay ahead of the trends? Download the Solo app to access personalized insights, optimize your driving schedule, and make every hour on the road count!
Food Delivery Trends and Earnings in the Gig Economy in December 2024
With nationwide holidays such as Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Years’ happening in December, food delivery drivers may see earnings fluctuate throughout the month. Our team of analysts reviewed the earnings data for food delivery drivers in December, and it appears that food delivery driver earnings nationwide are up by roughly 2% month-over-month. This increase is roughly equivalent to what the increase in average food delivery driver earnings looked like in November compared to October.
Check out some of the additional earnings insights our team found from the month of December below.
Alaska ($19.57), Hawaii ($18.47), and Rhode Island ($17.98) were the states with the highest earnings per hour in food delivery. Just like in October and November, Mississippi had the lowest earnings per hour in December at $11.97 per hour. December’s average hourly earnings were slightly higher than what the average earnings per hour in November, and the percentage increase is aligned with the nationwide increase of 2%.
Many states like Kansas, Oregon, and Texas displayed minimal fluctuation in food delivery earnings, with less than a 1% increase or decrease month-over-month. This could reflect consistent demand for food delivery services or balanced competition among drivers. We will continue to track these fluctuations moving into the holiday season.
Below is a comprehensive earnings trend map of the United States that reflects food delivery driver earnings per hour in each state. Highest earning states are colored in a deeper color, while lowest earning states appear colored in a lighter color.
Month-Over-Month Increases in Food Delivery Earnings
- Delaware saw the most significant increase, with food delivery earnings rising by +8.52%. The average earnings per hour for food delivery drivers in Delaware in November was $15.73, while in December it rose to $17.07/hour.
- North Dakota also had a noticeable increase in food delivery earnings per hour of +8.25%.
- Pennsylvania saw an increase in food delivery driver earnings per hour of nearly 6.65%.
Month-Over-Month Decreases in Food Delivery Earnings
- Wyoming witnessed the largest decrease in food delivery earnings, with a 5.26% drop.
- Alaska also saw a decrease of 4.35% in their average earnings per hour for food delivery drivers in December.
- Montana experienced a slight decrease of -3.45%. Louisiana experienced a slight decrease, as well, of -2.32% compared to November earnings.
Overall, other states that may have experienced a decrease in earnings saw decreases of less than 1% month-over-month. This further indicates that food delivery earnings remain relatively stable nationwide.
Maximize your food delivery earnings this holiday season with the Solo app! Get real-time insights, plan your shifts around peak demand, and take your income to the next level.
Final Thoughts - December Gig Economy Market Pulse
December, coupled with insights from November’s Market Pulse Report, proved that the holiday season can greatly impact demand and supply for gig workers across different gig types. On the one hand, the holiday season can mean more earnings opportunities for gig economy workers in certain regions and metros. On the other hand, weather and regional travel can reduce the overall demand for gig work opportunities.
Identifying these regional and seasonal trends can help gig workers make smarter choices about when and how to work within the gig economy.
The Solo Market Pulse provides drivers and workers from all backgrounds with the data they need to make informed decisions about their professions, and offers crucial insights into how earnings are shifting month by month.
How Solo’s Market Pulse Report Helps Gig Workers
With this blog series, Solo aims to empower drivers to thrive in the gig economy by providing access to the most current and accurate information.
By staying informed about seasonal fluctuations and leveraging resources like Solo's earnings trend map, gig workers can maximize their income and achieve financial stability.
Check back soon for another release of Solo’s Market Pulse! In the meantime, you can read other blog posts here.
.png)
