Nearly three quarters of Indonesian ride-hailing drivers turn to gig work after job search failures

The Segara Research Institute surveyed 506 gig workers, including 175 online motorcycle-taxi and taxi drivers, in five major Indonesian cities during August-September 2026. Findings reveal that 73.8% of these drivers chose gig work after failing to find formal employment, and 40.3% of all respondents listed job scarcity as their main motivation. More than half (57.3%) had never worked in the formal sector, and 22.1% of motorcycle-taxi drivers reported prior layoffs.

Flexibility emerged as the most valued aspect, cited by 88.1% of respondents and by 95% of motorcycle-taxi drivers. Gig work serves as the main income for 81.6% of participants, with 32.4% holding multiple gig jobs and 18.4% still employed in the formal sector. Older drivers (45+) face greater challenges returning to traditional employment, according to the institute. Economist YB Kadarusman urged policymakers to consider these worker characteristics when shaping regulations for digital platforms.