Exploring the Work Perceptions and Experiences of Gig Workers Globally: A Scoping Review

Abstract

The rapid expansion of the gig economy is reshaping work globally, producing both new opportunities and significant challenges for workers across diverse regions. This scoping review mapped global evidence on gig workers’ experiences between 2018 and 2024, following PRISMA-ScR guidelines. A comprehensive search of academic databases (EBSCOhost, Scopus, Sage, Springer, Taylor & Francis, Wiley, and Google Scholar) was conducted, yielding 1986 records, of which 26 met the inclusion criteria. Data were charted and synthesised to identify patterns in how gig workers describe their work experiences within broader socioeconomic and platform-based structures. Three interconnected themes emerged. First, freedom and flexibility remain central attractions of gig work, particularly for younger workers who value autonomy, scheduling control, and opportunities for combining multiple income streams. Second, gig work experiences vary significantly across demographic and geographic contexts, revealing unequal pathways shaped by gender, education, skill, migration status, and national labour-market conditions. Third, across all gig-work categories, workers reported precarity, including inconsistent income, job insecurity, algorithmic surveillance, limited benefits, and emotional strain. Taken together, the findings illustrate how autonomy and vulnerability coexist within the gig economy, highlighting the importance of policies and supports that address intersecting forms of inequality and promote safe, stable, and dignified work in a rapidly evolving labour landscape.