Perceived Income Stability and Financial Security Among Gig Workers in Indonesia: A Socioeconomic and Occupational Analysis
Perceived Income Stability and Financial Security Among Gig Workers in Indonesia: A Socioeconomic and Occupational Analysis

Summary/Abstract: The gig economy of flexible, platform-mediated, and task-based work has been reshaping the labour markets of countries worldwide, including Indonesia. Gig workers usually operate without formal contracts or social protection and face unique challenges related to income volatility management and long-term financial planning. This study analyses how gig workers in Indonesia perceive income stability and financial security at the individual level on various socio-economic and occupational dimensions. Based on a crosssectional survey of 1,196 respondents from Java Island, the study uses descriptive statistics, Spearman correlations, Mann-Whitney U tests, and Kruskal-Wallis analyses to identify behavioral and structural determinants of financial perceptions. A strong positive correlation is detected between perceived financial security and income stability; however, it varies remarkably in selected income brackets, savings behavior, work tenure, bonus frequency, and debt sources. Urban freelancers, especially those in Jakarta, report higher financial confidence compared to rural service-sector workers. The study will point out the role of financial literacy, platform incentives, and regional infrastructure in shaping economic resilience. Centering the lived experiences of gig workers themselves, this paper contributes to policy discussions on the regulation of digital labour and social protection in Indonesia’s evolving gig economy.

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