Forget flipping burgers or getting a summer internship. Some Gen Z workers are turning to apps like Uber or DoorDash for summer jobs.
Gig workers between the ages of 17 and 25 are the fastest-growing age group on the gig-work apps so far in the second quarter of 2026, data through May 17 from mobile app researcher Apptopia found. Gen Z registrations grew 8.4% over the same period in 2025, according to the data.
The rise in young people signing up for gig work apps comes as the school year ends for many students and summer break begins.
In May 2025, the number of active users aged 17 to 25 rose by 12% over the same period a year earlier. So far this month, the boost is 24%, Apptopia said.
Daily active Gen Z users on gig apps have also spiked in recent years, an Apptopia spokesperson said.
It helps that gig work jobs "are flexible, easy to get, and higher paying jobs are harder to get," the spokesperson said.
Gen Z is facing job uncertainty, whether it's getting internships or landing a full-time job. Entry-level roles are being scaled back as some companies invest in AI, prompting some young workers to seek alternatives.
On TikTok, some young workers post videos of themselves making deliveries for apps like DoorDash and Uber Eats, using hashtags like #summerjob.
Delivery app GoPuff had the largest increase in young gig worker signups midway through the second quarter, with a 97.5% year-over-year surge. Lyft's driver app followed with 70.3% growth among this demographic. Most gig-work apps require workers to be at least 18.
The summer spike isn't limited to Gen Z. Apptopia's data also showed smaller second-quarter usage spikes among gig workers aged 36 to 45 and those aged 46 and older. Users between 26 and 35 fell slightly during the period.
Apptopia's data tracked US users' age and habits on six delivery and ride-hailing apps. The company drew data from app stores and its panel of about 15 million users across a variety of apps.
Do you have a story to share about DoorDash, Uber, Instacart, or another gig-work app? Contact this reporter at [email protected] or via encrypted messaging app Signal at 808-854-4501. Use a personal email address, a nonwork WiFi network, and a nonwork device; here's our guide to sharing information securely.
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Alex Bitter is a senior retail reporter covering the gig economy, food, and retail. His work focuses major gig delivery and ride-hailing apps, including Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, Instacart, and Walmart's Spark. He is interested in everything from what it's like to work on the apps to the companies' business strategies.Some of his recent stories feature gig workers who have been deactivated on the apps, DoorDash hiring traditional employees to make deliveries, gig workers' use of bots, and gig work expanding into new professions, such as nursing.Alex has also written about Aldi's US expansion, Starbucks' turnaround efforts, and the fallout from Kraft-Heinz's budget cutting. Convenience store chain Sheetz ended its "smile policy" after his reporting.Before joining Insider in September 2020, he wrote about consumer and retail companies for S&P Global Market Intelligence. He's a graduate of the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa and grew up on the Big Island.Alex lives in the Washington, DC, area, where you can find him studying ancient coins or searching for Civil War artifacts with his metal detector in his free time.Got a tip? Reach out at [email protected] or via encrypted messaging app Signal at +1 (808) 854-4501.
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