Abstract

This  paper  provides  the  first  comprehensive  analysis  of  Uber’s  driver-partners,  based  on  both survey data and anonymized, aggregated administrative data. Uber has grown at an exponential rate  over  the  last  few  years,  and  drivers who  partner  with  Uber appear  to  be  attracted  to  the platform in large part because of the flexibility it offers, the level of compensation, and the fact that  earnings  per  hour  do  not  vary  much  with  hours  worked,  which  facilitates  part-time  and variable hours. Uber’s driver-partners are more similar in terms of their age and education to the general  workforce  than  to  taxi  drivers  and  chauffeurs.  Uber  may  serve  as  a  bridge  for  many seeking other employment opportunities, and it may attract well-qualified individuals because, with Uber’s star rating system, driver-partners’ reputations are explicitly shared with potential customers.  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.