As UCLA law professor Noah Zatz has

As UCLA law professor Noah Zatz has observed, “a small proportion of drivers are doing most of Uber’s work.” This creates a tension between a minority of full-time drivers and a majority of drivers who work part-time, earn supplemental income, or drive for social reasons. Because the supply of gig labor is liquid and comprised largely of part-time workers, employers like Uber have more flexibility to adjust wages and working conditions —but it’s their most dedicated workers who are affected most. The availability of part-time earners reduces pressure on employers to create more sustainable earning opportunities. The workers who hope to make a living in ridehail work take on the most risk.