> The survey counted unpaid work as "time spent looking for tasks, earning qualifications, researching requesters through online forums, communicating with requesters or clients and leaving reviews, as well as unpaid/rejected tasks/tasks ultimately not submitted."

These hidden costs are almost identical in the world of independent freelance work. Similar for "gig" workers as well. An Uber/Lyft driver told me he aims for 10 hours per day, which usually takes an extra 4 hours (14 total) of unpaid relocating, waiting around, etc.

My hope is that people view this as the cost of autonomy, but I fear most people aren't pricing it in.