The gig economy has a reputation for being everywhere and nowhere at once—a headline trend, but hard to pin down in official data. In cities around the world, the surge of freelancers, micro-entrepreneurs, and niche service providers has transformed daily life. Yet, quantifying that change, especially at the pace it happens, remains a puzzle. For analysts seeking clarity, ISIC 9609, which encompasses “other personal service activities,” offers a foothold in mapping this evolving sector.
The process starts with business registrations. Most urban jurisdictions require new firms and sole proprietors to declare their activity, often assigning an ISIC code in the process. ISIC 9609 is intentionally broad—capturing everything from pet-sitting and event organizing to home repair, tutoring, and bespoke lifestyle services. By comparing the number of new entries under this code in 2017 and 2018, analysts can chart the headline growth in service entrepreneurship year over year.
But the headline number is only the beginning. Urban gig economy services don’t distribute themselves evenly across a city. To identify hotspots—neighborhoods or corridors where gig work is thriving—analysts map the locations of ISIC 9609 firms, using business address registries, permit data, or even mobile platform sign-up information where available. Patterns often emerge: dense downtown clusters for business-oriented services, suburban pockets for child care or personal coaching, or cultural districts buzzing with creative freelancers.
Comparing 2017 and 2018 data adds another layer. A sudden uptick in new ISIC 9609 registrations might correlate with broader shifts in urban employment, rising costs of living, or policy changes that encourage self-employment. Conversely, a slowdown could reflect market saturation, regulatory tightening, or broader economic headwinds. Layering these firm counts with demographic and economic indicators—such as median income or rates of formal employment—can sharpen the analysis, suggesting where gig economy growth is plugging gaps or serving new kinds of demand.
It’s important to remember that ISIC 9609, by its nature, will always be an imperfect proxy for gig work. Not all participants register formally; some work part time or as a side hustle, slipping through the cracks of official data. Others operate within digital platforms that may not require local registration, or they diversify services across multiple codes. For policymakers, this means interpreting growth as a signal, not a verdict—a prompt for further investigation rather than a final answer.
What stands out from this approach is the realization that service sector dynamism, especially in cities, is more than just a product of tech platforms or global trends. It reflects local culture, opportunity, and adaptation. By using ISIC 9609 to track and map this growth, analysts and planners can start to see the invisible threads connecting neighborhoods, skills, and livelihoods—helping cities nurture the clusters that make urban life more flexible, more innovative, and sometimes, just a bit more human.