Nearly half of Americans add to on-demand economy, poll finds

Almost half of Americans have participated in the on-demand economy, a new trade group-backed survey says.

The Internet Association and the Travel Technology Association produced the survey, which found that 46 percent of people had engaged with the on-demand economy, also known as the peer-to-peer or sharing economy. That was up from the 19 percent of Americans a study last year found to be participating on the platforms.

Both organizations represent major companies in the sector.

Though ride-sharing companies like Uber and Lyft or home-sharing platforms like Airbnb receive the most attention, personal marketplaces like Etsy and other app-based service delivery platforms are viewed as part of the same sphere.

The survey found that 19.47 percent of Americans have used a short-term rental service. Almost a quarter, 24.39 percent, say they have been a passenger of a ride-sharing service.

The survey was conducted using online platform SurveyMonkey between Nov. 23 and 24. It had a sample size of 1,017 and a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percent.

The groups’ findings come amid a heated debate on the status of services like Uber and Airbnb, which connect users with their services at the tap off a smartphone screen.

In Washington, Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) has called for a safety net for workers for many of the companies, which classify their workforces as independent contractors rather than employees. The Federal Trade Commission is also considering whether to issue any guidance on the growing industry.