TransUnion Study: 63% of Canadian Gig Workers Supplement Income, 68% in Prime Risk Tiers
TRU•TransUnion's new Canada gig economy study finds 11% of workforce are gig workers, 63% supplement full-time wages and 39% earn CAD1,000–4,000 monthly net. 68% of these workers sit in prime or better risk tiers versus 73% of general population, but report 46% application friction and 44% term issues.
1. Study Overview
TransUnion’s 2026 Canada Financial Services Summit unveiled a study showing gig workers constitute about 11% of Canada's workforce, with 63% also holding full-time jobs and 39% netting between CAD1,000 and CAD4,000 monthly from gig work.
2. Credit Risk Findings
The report reveals 68% of gig workers occupy prime or better credit risk tiers versus 73% of general credit-active consumers, indicating broadly aligned credit profiles despite perceptions of volatility.
3. Application Challenges
Gig workers report nearly 50% facing credit application barriers, driven by 46% complex processes, 44% unfavourable terms and 44% income variability concerns, with documentation issues cited by 24%.
4. Market Opportunity
TransUnion highlights an opportunity to refine risk assessment by integrating gig income into credit models, potentially expanding inclusion for this growing 11% workforce segment and driving new revenue streams.
