Is Gig Work the Future of Work? Digital Inequality in Older Adults’ Online Labor Participation

• In Event: 30216 - Emerging Work Practices in the Age of AI

Abstract

Gig platforms present opportunities for flexible work that may be particularly appealing to older adults. Given its flexible nature, gig work holds the promise of allowing older adults to shape employment to meet their personal needs and preferences, allowing them to partake in the labor force for longer than otherwise possible. Despite these potential benefits, little is known about the group’s participation in gig work. Through a national survey of older adults in the US, we examine to what extent they have adopted gig work, and how sociodemographic background and digital experiences influence the likelihood of being a gig worker. We find that participation is low overall, suggesting that older adults are facing obstacles in accessing gig work. Moreover, participation varies by age, education, and digital skills. Specifically, being younger, having a higher level of education, and being more digitally skilled predict engagement in gig work, suggesting that digital inequalities impact who can leverage gig platforms. At the same time, Black older adults and those with disabilities are more likely to pursue gig work, implying that platforms offer some income-generating opportunities to certain disadvantaged groups. As such, our study emphasizes the potential for gig work to serve older adults, even as overall participation remains low and is not equally distributed across this population.

Authors

• Floor Fiers, Northwestern University

• Will Marler, University of Zurich

• Eszter Hargittai, University of Zurich