Online platform work offers new employment opportunities to individuals with health problems or limited prospects, providing them with a means to earn a wage, according to new research from Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU).
The study, led by Dominik Klaus and his team, reveals that while online platform work can have adverse effects on health, financial risk, social protection, and overall financial stability, the allure of a flexible income source, accessible from home, continues to attract a growing number of workers to the platform economy.
Despite widespread criticism of the precarious nature of such work, the study highlights several positive aspects, including the ability to work at any time and from any location. For some, this form of employment also offers both social and professional fulfilment.
Work that is entirely flexible in terms of time and place is particularly appealing to individuals with limited opportunities in the traditional labour market, such as those who are ill, have restricted mobility, or bear caregiving responsibilities.
The online labour market becomes even more significant when other employment options are limited, whether due to personal circumstances or broader structural factors.
“So, despite all the criticism of precarious working conditions, platform work does have some positive aspects and can also hold the potential for the social inclusion of people who cannot participate in traditional labour markets,” says Klaus.
Online platform work also contributes to the rise of non-standard employment contracts and often results in a high risk of precarity, exposing workers to significant financial risks and instability. Nevertheless, it offers considerable benefits to some workers.
The paper was published in the journal Social Inclusion.