An Analysis of the Labor Market for Uber's Driver-Partners in the United States

36 Pages Posted: 21 Nov 2016 Last revised: 2 Jun 2023

See all articles by Jonathan Hall

Jonathan Hall

Uber Technologies Inc.

Alan B. Krueger

Princeton University - Industrial Relations Section; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER); IZA Institute of Labor Economics

Date Written: November 2016

Abstract

Uber, the ride-sharing company launched in 2010, has grown at an exponential rate. This paper provides the first comprehensive analysis of the labor market for Uber’s driver-partners, based on both survey and administrative data. Drivers who partner with Uber appear to be attracted to the platform largely because of the flexibility it offers, the level of compensation, and the fact that earnings per hour do not vary much with the number of hours worked. Uber’s driver-partners are more similar in terms of their age and education to the general workforce than to taxi drivers and chauffeurs. Most of Uber’s driver-partners had full- or part-time employment prior to joining Uber, and many continued in those positions after starting to drive with the Uber platform, which makes the flexibility to set their own hours all the more valuable. Uber’s driver-partners also often cited the desire to smooth fluctuations in their income as a reason for partnering with Uber.

Suggested Citation

Hall, Jonathan and Krueger, Alan B., An Analysis of the Labor Market for Uber's Driver-Partners in the United States (November 2016). NBER Working Paper No. w22843, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2873316

Jonathan Hall (Contact Author)

Uber Technologies Inc. ( email )

1455 Market St
San Francisco, CA 94103-1331
United States

Alan B. Krueger

Princeton University - Industrial Relations Section ( email )

Princeton, NJ 08544-2098
United States
609-258-4046 (Phone)
609-258-2907 (Fax)

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

1050 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138
United States

IZA Institute of Labor Economics

P.O. Box 7240
Bonn, D-53072
Germany

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