Pune Students Shift Toward Gig Economy Amid Future Job Concerns
In Pune, a growing number of students are embracing gig work as an alternative or supplement to their college education, motivated by widespread job insecurity and mounting financial pressures. This trend reflects a broader skepticism about traditional career paths and the value of formal education in today's rapidly changing job market.
Student Voices: From Classroom to Delivery Routes
Dilip Wagh, a 19-year-old mechanical engineering student from Balewadi, captures the sentiment of many when he states, "There will be no jobs in the future anyway, only those who understand AI will be able to keep up." He has been working with Swiggy Instamart for about a month, logging in during weekends or when incentives are particularly attractive. Disillusioned with conventional classroom learning, Dilip primarily relies on online resources to acquire knowledge and skills.
Similarly, Avinash and Ishaan, both 18 and pursuing a BBA in Computer Applications (Honours) in the Bund Garden area, joined Blinkit as delivery partners at the start of 2026. They work regular shifts after college hours to cover their monthly expenses. When questioned about their classroom experiences, their response is a telling sneering smile, highlighting a deep-seated dissatisfaction with the educational system.
Financial Necessity and Post-Pandemic Realities
For many students, gig work began as a financial necessity. Nitin Parihar, 26, started part-time work with Uber during the Covid pandemic while enrolled in an MCom degree at a Deccan area college. After graduation, with campus placements uncertain due to the pandemic, he transitioned fully to delivery work with Swiggy Instamart. Reflecting on his and his friends' experiences, Nitin expresses disappointment, suggesting, "It is better to find a college and put up a stall in front of it, at least you will earn money."
Younger students have also entered the workforce early. Parth Jadhav, 18, has been delivering food for two years after taking a gap year post-Class 12. He plans to apply for a BBA degree this year, indicating a tentative balance between work and education.
Loss of Interest in Formal Education
Some students have completely lost interest in returning to college. Siddharth Sawant, 20, has worked as a Swiggy Instamart delivery partner for one and a half years while managing a nearby food stall. After struggling to understand subjects post-Class 10, he lost interest in studies and now aspires to start his own venture, stating in Hindi, "Ab interest hi nahi hai, ab kuch khud ka karna hai" (There is no interest anymore; now I need to do something for myself).
Gagan Yadav, 25, who graduated in political science from Madhya Pradesh, took a job as a security guard at a Swiggy Instamart store in Pune and later transitioned to gig work. He questions the purpose of studying, remarking, "What is the point of studying? What will I get out of it? You don't get money by studying." He plans to return to his hometown for farming in the near future.
The Social Stigma and Personal Struggles
Not all students are content with gig work. Nimesh Gade, 19, a commerce student in Deccan, has been an Instamart delivery partner for a year, following in the footsteps of his father and uncle. He expresses dissatisfaction with college and aims to start his own business soon, eventually leaving delivery work behind.
Nimesh recounts painful experiences that have fueled his bitterness. On his birthday, while making a down payment for a phone he bought with his own money, a store employee criticized him for aspiring to own an iPhone as a delivery worker. He also avoids wearing the mandatory Swiggy Instamart T-shirt when delivering to IT companies to escape judgment, saying, "It hurts me how they look at me when I enter wearing the delivery T-shirt. They think I am beneath them."
This shift among Pune students underscores a critical reevaluation of education and career paths in an era of economic uncertainty and technological disruption.
