The influence of digital platforms on gig workers: A systematic literature review
Digital platforms have significantly transformed the labor market, particularly in the gig economy. Despite this issue's growing importance, no systematic literature review has explicitly examined the influence of digital platforms on gig workers. This study fills this gap by conducting a compr...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Heliyon |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844024175226 |
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| author | Farah Diba Almayanda Alauddin Aini Aman Mohd Fahmi Ghazali Sity Daud |
| author_facet | Farah Diba Almayanda Alauddin Aini Aman Mohd Fahmi Ghazali Sity Daud |
| author_sort | Farah Diba Almayanda Alauddin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Digital platforms have significantly transformed the labor market, particularly in the gig economy. Despite this issue's growing importance, no systematic literature review has explicitly examined the influence of digital platforms on gig workers. This study fills this gap by conducting a comprehensive review of 18 articles out of 81 published between 2019 and 2023, retrieved from the Scopus and Web of Science databases, using the PRISMA framework. Thematic analysis revealed 12 key themes that capture the complex influence of digital platforms on gig workers, suggesting that platforms offer both opportunities and challenges. Digital platforms provide low barriers to entry, facilitate task allocation, and offer flexible work arrangements. However, gig workers face significant challenges, such as a lack of social protections, algorithmic control, intense competition, and downward pressure on wages. The implications are significant for sustainable economic development in the platform economy, underscoring the importance of collective organizing, re-evaluating platform practices, and strengthening labor regulations. As the gig economy expands globally, researchers, platforms, and policymakers must work together to ensure that the benefits of digital platforms are shared more equitably and that gig workers can thrive in this new world of work. Given the scarcity of papers published about this topic, the study has no specific focus on region and industry. In addition, this study only extracts papers that are published in English. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-f18313368ea04bbc86387a09b7db9ca9 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2405-8440 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Heliyon |
| spelling | doaj-art-f18313368ea04bbc86387a09b7db9ca92025-01-17T04:51:26ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402025-01-01111e41491The influence of digital platforms on gig workers: A systematic literature reviewFarah Diba Almayanda Alauddin0Aini Aman1Mohd Fahmi Ghazali2Sity Daud3Faculty of Economics and Management, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Malaysia; School of International Studies, Universiti Utara Malaysia, MalaysiaCenter for Global Business & Digital Economy Studies, Faculty of Economics and Management, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, MalaysiaCenter for Global Business & Digital Economy Studies, Faculty of Economics and Management, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Malaysia; Corresponding author.Research Center for History, Politics, and International Affairs, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanity, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, MalaysiaDigital platforms have significantly transformed the labor market, particularly in the gig economy. Despite this issue's growing importance, no systematic literature review has explicitly examined the influence of digital platforms on gig workers. This study fills this gap by conducting a comprehensive review of 18 articles out of 81 published between 2019 and 2023, retrieved from the Scopus and Web of Science databases, using the PRISMA framework. Thematic analysis revealed 12 key themes that capture the complex influence of digital platforms on gig workers, suggesting that platforms offer both opportunities and challenges. Digital platforms provide low barriers to entry, facilitate task allocation, and offer flexible work arrangements. However, gig workers face significant challenges, such as a lack of social protections, algorithmic control, intense competition, and downward pressure on wages. The implications are significant for sustainable economic development in the platform economy, underscoring the importance of collective organizing, re-evaluating platform practices, and strengthening labor regulations. As the gig economy expands globally, researchers, platforms, and policymakers must work together to ensure that the benefits of digital platforms are shared more equitably and that gig workers can thrive in this new world of work. Given the scarcity of papers published about this topic, the study has no specific focus on region and industry. In addition, this study only extracts papers that are published in English.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844024175226J21J24J28O33 |
| spellingShingle | Farah Diba Almayanda Alauddin Aini Aman Mohd Fahmi Ghazali Sity Daud The influence of digital platforms on gig workers: A systematic literature review Heliyon J21 J24 J28 O33 |
| title | The influence of digital platforms on gig workers: A systematic literature review |
| title_full | The influence of digital platforms on gig workers: A systematic literature review |
| title_fullStr | The influence of digital platforms on gig workers: A systematic literature review |
| title_full_unstemmed | The influence of digital platforms on gig workers: A systematic literature review |
| title_short | The influence of digital platforms on gig workers: A systematic literature review |
| title_sort | influence of digital platforms on gig workers a systematic literature review |
| topic | J21 J24 J28 O33 |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844024175226 |
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