The US Department of Labor has ruled that an unnamed gig economy company 's workers were contractors and not employees in a move that is likely to affect the wider industry . Under the Obama administration , the Labor Department said it and its workers were likely to be employees . However , the department did a U - turn on that opinion after President Donald Trump came to power . The US gig economy is estimated to have between three and five million workers at any one time .
The US Department of Labor has ruled that an unnamed gig economy company's workers were contractors and not employees in a move that is likely to affect the wider industry. Under the Obama administration, the Labor Department said Uber and Lyft workers were likely to be employees. However, the department did a U-turn on that opinion after President Donald Trump came to power. The US gig economy is estimated to have between one and five million workers at any one time.