Real estate, transportation drive LI's growing gig economy

Daily Point

Property agents, Uber, Lyft drivers, among others, raked in over $25B in sales, revenue in 2023

The surge in the number of gig workers and the self-employed on Long Island has boosted the local economy, accounting for more than $25.25 billion in income from sales and revenue in 2023.

These include freelancers — the delivery drivers, landscape workers and other sole proprietors — who are self-employed and have no paid employees. Gig workers make up approximately 86.4% of all nonemployer establishments — a term used to describe unincorporated businesses that have no payroll — which makes the dataset the most comprehensive public source of statistics on the gig economy. Around 327,000 such businesses were registered on Long Island in 2023, up 23.1% from 263,557 in 2015.

With more than 55,000 registered unincorporated businesses, real estate was the single-largest sector on Long Island with self-employed individuals. As per 2023 federal tax records obtained by the U.S. Census Bureau from the IRS, the sector generated nearly $7 billion in revenue, a reflection of Long Island’s skyrocketing home prices. This includes the fees and commissions earned by real estate agents and brokers and excludes real estate firms that hire staff.

With a 270% jump in the number of registered unincorporated businesses, Long Island’s transportation and warehousing sector has grown at the greatest rate for gig workers. This includes taxi service providers like Uber and Lyft drivers, food delivery agents, tour guides, and others. In 2015, there were 10,895 such businesses in the sector, generating income of about $611.7 million. In 2024, that number had jumped to 40,387 with more than $1.85 billion in recorded income.

The professional services sector is the second-largest self-employed sector on Long Island and broadly includes lawyers, accountants, photographers, tutors, wedding planners and other service providers working independently. In 2023, there were 54,797 registered unincorporated businesses in the sector, with $4.12 billion in income. This was a 16.9% increase in the number of businesses from 2015, when the reported income from the sector was $2.57 billion.

In tandem with rising home prices is the growing cost to maintain one. The construction sector, which accounts for a notable number of self-employed individuals and includes plumbing, masonry, electric work and other businesses, saw a 53% jump in revenue from $1.38 billion in 2015 to $2.11 billion in 2023. It accounts for about 24,332 registered independent businesses, up 16.5% from 23,366 in 2015. According to the National Association of Home Builders, construction costs have jumped from 2022, when they accounted for 60.8% of the average price of a new home, 2024, when they accounted for 64.4%.

Click here for the searchable database on Long Island's self-employed and gig workers.

— Karthika Namboothiri karthika.namboothiri@newsday.com

Pencil Point

Trade warrior

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Final Point

'Bipartisan' is the buzzword in Long Island politics

If you’re playing political word bingo, "bipartisan" is a winner.

Most politicians are eager in these days of the great political divide to tout their bipartisan records to win voters — and elections. For Long Island’s congressional delegation, bipartisanship is key in a region known for its middle-of-the-road electorate.

Reps. Tom Suozzi and Laura Gillen, both Democrats, flood their press releases with the word "bipartisan."

In a July 17 release, Gillen uses the word seven times. "In case you missed it, Congresswoman Laura Gillen recently joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers to introduce H.R. 4393, the Dignity Act — bipartisan, comprehensive immigration reform that strengthens national security and supports Border Patrol."

Suozzi, in a July 1 release, uses "bipartisan" seven times. "The bipartisan Housing for U.S. Act would use billions of dollars generated by ending the federal government’s conservatorship of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac."

Rep. Nick LaLota, a Republican, just Monday issued a news release highlighting his bipartisan role with a bill to protect estuaries. "I lead the bipartisan ESTUARIES Act in the House because I represent two of our nation’s 28 nationally recognized estuaries ..."

Republican Rep. Andrew Garbarino? Not so much. Just once is the word "bipartisan" used in his press releases dating back to May. He crushed his opponent in 2024 with 59.8% of the vote, so perhaps the need to wear the label isn’t as strong.

LaLota’s district has 192,722 registered active Republicans and 184,799 registered active Democrats. There are 177,651 voters listed as "blank." Garbarino’s district has 167,319 registered active Republicans and 178,494 registered active Democrats with 155,371 voters listed as "blank." For Suozzi’s district, there are 148,611 registered active Republicans and 209,186 registered active Democrats, and 159,962 voters listed as "blank." Gillen’s Fourth Congressional District is comprised 161,504 registered active Republicans, 227,458 registered active Democrats and 143,594 voters listed as "blank."

LaLota won his election last year with a comfortable 55.2% of the vote. Gillen edged Anthony D’Esposito in 2024 with 51.1% of the vote. Suozzi was elected with 51.8% of the vote.

With razor-thin election victories, it’s easy to see why finding people across the aisle to join onto a bill or joining theirs can be considered a key bipartisan strategy.

— Mark Nolan mark.nolan@newsday.com

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