Study finds high job satisfaction in gig work—these women are living proof

Stephanie Olarte, 41-year-old mom of three-year-old twins, and Hannah Ruth Villares, 38-year-old mental health advocate, have taken greater control over their lives by leaving their desk jobs to pursue gig work.

Freelancing has allowed them to achieve a certain balance between work and personal life—a feat that is challenging to achieve when one is confined to a traditional office work setup.

By working from home, Stephanie and Hannah no longer endure Metro Manila’s punishing daily commute, where gridlock and scarce public transport can consume hours each day. They can also work on their professional duties in their own time, at their own pace—enabling them to live their lives flexibly.

With more time on their hands, they can devote greater attention to themselves and their families, becoming more present in their personal lives.

Their story reflects the findings of the Gig Life PH study by global market research firm Ipsos, which cited flexibility in working time and location as one of the primary motivations why Filipinos engage in gig work. This freedom allows them to adjust their hours to meet financial needs, such as working more during peak seasons to boost earnings or scaling back to focus on personal matters, family time, or side businesses.

Freelancers can perform their work remotely because of online job platforms (which have been on the rise). In line with this, the Department of Information and Communications Technology is working to create millions of digital jobs by expanding internet access, offering free digital skills training, and helping Filipinos find work opportunities online, especially in rural areas.

Mom duties

Stephanie has been a freelance writer since 2019, handling multiple websites related to travel and pharmaceuticals. Occasionally, she does voice-over projects. She was also a financial advisor for an insurance company for a time. Before that, the mother of twins worked as a writer for a publication and joined the corporate communications team of a global shipping company.

Doing gig work has allowed Stephanie to be a hands-on mom, enabling her to adjust her work schedule when needed while also assuring that deliverables are completed on time. “When you’re at home, you get to see your kids,” she says.

She can look after the kids herself when they are sick and handle nebulizer treatments if necessary. She can also bring her kids to doctor’s appointments on a weekday, which is ideal because the clinic is less crowded at that time.

Apart from mom duties, the freelance writer can easily do errands during the day, such as quick trips to the grocery store when needed. 

Stephanie can also work around her schedule to accommodate catch-ups with college friends from time to time. 

With flexible working hours, the freelance writer also cites having a full night’s rest as an upside. “I can maximize my sleep. It’s better for my health and overall well-being because I’m well-rested,” she shares.

Promoting mental health

Hannah is an advocate for mental health, a cause that is close to her heart.

Starting in 2022, she began actively volunteering with Mental Health PH, where she helps organize and assist in events that promote mental health awareness. One of her recent activities was volunteering for World Suicide Prevention Day last September 10, an event held in partnership with the National Center for Mental Health.

Her flexible schedule as a freelance editor and proofreader allows her to dedicate time to advocacy work and other personal pursuits. Before transitioning to gig work, Hannah was an editor and writer in an office-based setting, which made it difficult to join weekday events, volunteer for causes, or simply take time off without filing for leave. Now, she just needs to ensure that her tasks are finished within the deadline—and then she can proceed to doing other things.

Freelancing also gives her space for quiet routines at home—caring for her pets, doing household chores, and enjoying slow mornings—while still keeping her career on track.

In the long run, Hannah sees freelancing as a sustainable work setup given her plan to move to Sweden to be with her long-time partner. With her work as a freelance editor and proofreader, she can bring her career with her and continue taking on projects from anywhere.

“There's this plan for me to close the distance with my partner. And it's gonna be much easier to transition to that if I work from home,” she says. 

High job satisfaction

Freelancing truly suits the current circumstances of both Stephanie and Hannah. It provides them with a sense of fulfillment and work-life balance. 

Their experiences mirror the broader sentiment captured by the Ipsos study, in which 83% of Filipino gig workers report high job satisfaction largely due to the autonomy their work provides. 

Despite income variability, 78% of gig workers remain satisfied with their jobs, indicating that control over their time and workload matters more to them than inconsistencies in pay. It is worth noting, however, that their income is directly related to the amount of work they choose to undertake.

For this study, Ipsos surveyed 1,500 gig workers in the Philippines.

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Editor’s Note: This article is a paid partnership with Ipsos.