India, Sept. 20 -- Along with current earnings, the prospect of higher future earnings also matters; the key question is whether these jobs offer avenues to increase income through work that builds recognised skills, improves productivity, and ultimately provides a path to better employment.

The promise of meeting every need, from restocking the kitchen to outsourcing household chores, is becoming a defining feature of India's urban consumer economy. These services are part of an expanding gig economy estimated to engage 12 million workers and expected to grow to 23.5 million by 2029-2030.

New entrants are expanding the market by competing to deliver a wider range of needs through on-demand services, while established platforms strive t...