New Morning Consult Data Finds that App-Based Economy Reaches Record Size, Retains Broad Worker and Consumer Support

Morning Consult data shows platform workforce has grown to nearly three in ten U.S. adults, with independent contractor status holding durable, bipartisan support

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Flex Association today released new national and state-level survey data, conducted by Morning Consult, showing that the app-based economy has grown larger, is more broadly distributed, and enjoys more broad political support since Flex's first national survey in 2023.

The share of U.S. adults currently earning income on an app-based platform rose from 23% in 2023 to 28% in 2026 — nearly three in ten Americans. For most, platform work is a flexible supplement that fits around other jobs and family obligations. Eighty percent of current earners work 20 hours or fewer per week on app-based platforms, and 82% say that platform income has helped them cope with inflation. 

Independent contractor status continues to command strong, broad-based support. More than two-thirds (69%) of workers who have earned independent income in their working lives support maintaining independent contractor classification; the margin holds across party lines, racial and ethnic groups, and income brackets. Among the broader public, U.S. adults remain nearly 2-to-1 more likely to penalize than reward politicians who force reclassification.

"This data confirms what we hear every day from app-based workers across the country," said Kristin Sharp, CEO of Flex. "Whether it's a single parent supplementing their income or an entrepreneur supporting a new idea, app-based platforms offer something traditional employment cannot: genuine flexibility. Workers want to keep the independence they have, and voters are watching to see who in Washington is listening."

Consumer adoption has reached a similar scale. Seventy-two percent of U.S. adults have used an app-based platform as a customer, with 51% having done so in the past three months alone. These services have become a daily utility for millions of Americans, providing transportation, food, and medicine delivery on demand.

App-based platforms have also become a lifeline for small businesses, connecting local restaurants, independent grocers, and neighborhood retailers to a far larger customer base and generating tens of billions of dollars in additional revenue for businesses that might otherwise lack the reach to compete.

"App-based platforms have reshaped daily life for consumers and small businesses alike," added Sharp. "A neighbor looking for a ride, a meal, or a prescription can get it at the touch of a button, while the local restaurant or grocer that once couldn't reach customers beyond their block can now compete for the whole city."

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About the Survey

The survey was conducted by Morning Consult on behalf of Flex. The 2026 edition includes national and state-level data, enabling direct comparison to the 2023 baseline. Full results are available here.

About Flex. Flex is the voice of the app-based economy, representing America's leading app-based rideshare and delivery platforms and the people who count on them. Our member companies — DoorDash, Grubhub, HopSkipDrive, Instacart, Lyft, Shipt and Uber— help provide access to crucial goods and services to customers safely and efficiently, offer flexible earning opportunities to workers and support economic growth in communities across the country.