Gig economy stories

EarnIn says US workers have made over 1m Live Pay transactions since July 2025, underscoring rising demand for real-time access to wages.

Employers plan to cut junior hiring as AI expands, leaving most staff feeling unprepared for rapid shifts in work and skills demand.

Digital marketplaces are empowering UK women to turn side hustles into scalable brands, bypassing traditional funding bottlenecks.

As work shifts to flexible, capability-led models, women in tech gain a rare chance to turn non-linear careers into leadership power.

TerraPay links its global payments network to Raenest to speed local-currency payouts to freelancers in India and the Philippines.

Singapore employers tighten permanent headcount, channelling spend into scarce AI, cyber and data skills while ramping up contract hiring.

On-demand laundry platform Laundryheap has expanded into Colombia, Mexico, Malaysia and Scotland, as it accelerates its global rollout.

Grab Finance taps FICO data tech to automate credit checks across six Southeast Asian markets and boost eligibility by nearly 50%.

GoCab secures USD $45m in equity and debt to expand gig driver vehicle financing and electric mobility across Africa and emerging markets.

TerraPay partners with MilX to speed cross-border payouts, giving YouTube creators faster local-currency access to earnings in 70+ markets.

Delivery Hero uses Twilio automated voice calls to cut rider contact by 25%, slash escalations over 60% and lift last-mile answer rates.

Online creators turn from volatile ad deals to subscriptions, affiliates and paid events, bringing bigger paydays but trickier tax demands.

Language learning platform Preply secures $150 million to boost AI tools and global growth, valuing the business at $1.2 billion.

Cybersecurity teams face digital border taxes, AI-first clouds, agentic AI threats and the end of VPNs as 2026 reshapes digital risk.

Mastercard partners with Thunes to enable near-instant payouts to stablecoin wallets via Mastercard Move, enhancing global digital payment options.

By 2026, AI will revolutionise banking and insurance, with over half of younger adults using generative AI for financial advice, says Forrester report.

YY Group will use Obita's stablecoin platform to enhance cross-border payments for its global gig workforce, boosting speed, security and inclusion.

Generative AI is ushering in a creative renaissance, making filmmaking and art accessible to all and sparking new forms of collaborative storytelling.

Multiplier launches COR solution to simplify global contractor compliance, offering fast onboarding, region-specific contracts, and payments in 120+ currencies.

Humanforce has acquired Australian HR tech firm LiveHire for USD $17.2 million, marking its fourth acquisition in two years to enhance workforce solutions.