The State of Workforce Platforms

Data aggregated from Zeal-powered workforce platforms across January–December 2025.

Key Statistics

• 200K+ Worker signups tracked
• 12 Months of data
• 5 Report chapters
• 2 Worker types (W2 + 1099)

Executive Summary

To be a high-performing workforce platform, operational execution is key.

Workforce platforms take many forms, including staffing agencies, gig marketplaces, contractor networks, and direct-dispatch platforms. What they share is the operational challenge of activating workers quickly, paying them reliably, and ensuring they return. The market demand peaked sharply in 2022, but has been contracting since. In a stabilizing market, the difference between high-performing platforms and others lies in operational fundamentals.

Key Findings

01 — Onboarding

• Median time to first shift: ~10 days
• Best-in-Class Activation: Top platforms activate workers in under 9 days

02 — Payments

• Time-to-pay range: 96-115 hours
• Median hours from shift end to funds available: 4-5 days

03 — Retention

• Drop-off rate after first shift: 17-28%
• Typical Shifts per Worker, per Month: 3-4

04 — Wages

• Wage spread: ~$9/hour
• High-wage markets: CA, CO, WA (22-24 $)

05 — Seasonality

• Utilization swings: 34% difference between peak and trough periods

Section 01 — Onboarding & Activation

The first shift is the biggest drop-off point

Time to first shift varies significantly across platforms and affects worker retention.

• Avg Completion Rate: 34% across all 2025 cohorts
• Best-in-Class Activation: Top platforms activate workers in under 9 days.

Section 02 — Payments

Pay is where trust is won or lost

Workers rely on timely payments, which impacts trust and retention. Platforms show significant variance in pay speed.

Section 03 — Worker Engagement

Retention looks strong until you look closer

Early drop-off rates post-first shift indicate challenges in retention.

Section 04 — Wages / Pay Rates by State

Where you operate determines what workers cost

• Median base hourly wages: Range from $15/hr to over $24/hr across different states.
• High-wage markets: WA, CO, CA lead the dataset averages.

Section 05 — Seasonality & Growth

Utilization swings are predictable

Planning for shifts between peak and trough months is essential for operational efficiency.

• Peak Utilization: 7.5 shifts per active worker
• Trough Utilization: 5.6 shifts per active worker

The staffing market is stabilizing, with the next phase of growth coming from improved operational efficiency and technology.