São Paulo, June 11, 2021 – App delivery people enjoy their profession and value autonomy and flexibility. This is what the research carried out by the Locomotiva Institute reveals, which traced the X-ray of food delivery people, who together with other merchandise delivery people, form a contingent of 700 thousand people, according to data from the latest PNAD Covid survey.
The interviews were carried out in February this year, with 2,643 delivery people from various food delivery platforms in Brazil. They address the routine, sources of income, perceptions about work and social and professional perspectives of these workers. The study was commissioned by iFood, the largest delivery platform in the country.
Among the delivery drivers who worked previously, 67% states that he prefers his current job as a delivery driver. Of those who work with a formal contract, 66% prefer the current autonomous and flexible work model. Freedom is among the factors most valued by delivery drivers, who cite the following benefits of this type of work:
- They can combine it with another occupation;
- They can have flexible working hours, which even allows them to choose how and how many hours they work throughout the month;
- They don’t have to answer to anyone, nor “give satisfaction” to a boss; It is
- They do not work to enrich others, but only themselves.
The survey also shows that there is a preference for the work model in which they are able to manage their own routine. Other survey data confirms this: 70% of those interviewed say they are not looking for another job and, among the remaining 30%, 76% consider continuing to make deliveries even after the pandemic.
The president of Instituto Locomotiva, Renato Meirelles, explains the new profile of professionals who work on digital platforms: “They attribute their preference for the current model to factors such as flexible working hours, the possibility of generating their own income and the advantage of not having a boss. ”
At the same time, the growing entry of new workers in the food delivery sector also makes discussions urgent about the need to regulate work on digital platforms. “Brazil needs regulation that guarantees safety, minimum earnings and social protection for delivery people who work with digital platforms, without compromising their autonomy and freedom of choice when carrying out the activity”, he states Diego Barreto, vice president of finance and strategy at iFood.
App deliveries generate increased income
The research shows that app delivery activity is here to stay. Of the interviewees interviewed, 85% intend to continue as couriers, with 42% seeing themselves in the activity in the short term (1 year), 35% in the medium term (3 years) and 14% in the long term (5 years). The vast majority (92%) also say they are proud to work as delivery drivers through digital platforms.
In addition to being a new work option, app deliveries have brought the prospect of increased income for many Brazilian workers. Of the 2,643 interviewed, 59% stated that their current income is greater than their income from their previous job and 79% stated that app delivery is their only source of income.
The average monthly salary of app delivery drivers who were interviewed in the survey is R$2,154, almost double the current minimum wage. The amount received by those who use applications is also 35% greater than the income of those who work directly for restaurants, which is 1,592 reais. The average for delivery people who maintain other sources of income is 1,902 reais.
The data also points to the growth of the new economy, especially among younger people. 75% of delivery drivers aged 18 to 25 who have already had other jobs say they prefer their current activity, which is also becoming a gateway into the job market. This is the case of 13% who cite the activity as their first professional experience, and among young people aged 18 to 24 the percentage rises to 32%.
About the X-Ray of Delivery Drivers in Brazil survey
The survey by Instituto Locomotiva interviewed 2,643 delivery drivers from São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, Porto Alegre, Salvador, Recife, Campinas (SP), Ribeirão Preto (SP), Curitiba, Belém and Brasília.
About iFood
iFood, a reference in online food delivery in Latin America, has 60 million monthly orders. Having been on the market for ten years, the Brazilian company is also present in Colombia. It works together with partners with initiatives that bring together business intelligence and management solutions for the approximately 270 thousand restaurants registered in more than a thousand cities throughout Brazil. iFood has important investors, such as Movile, a global leader in mobile marketplaces, and Just Eat, one of the largest online ordering companies in the world.
