Variations of Freelancers’ “Effort-Bargain” Experiences in Platform Work: The Role of Skills

Abstract

This article delves into freelancers’“effort-bargain” experiences within platform work, where effort is exchanged for income. The study of experiences enables us to understand how freelancer–platform relationships evolve in light of the platforms’ lack of recognition of freelancers’ skills. Drawing on 63 interviews across four platforms within the online labor market (OLM), the authors present a theoretical framework explaining a “skill-driven continuum” in such relationships. At one extreme (cooperation), freelancers experience the effort-bargain as recognition exchange, facilitated by non-competitive, regular transactions allowing them to monetize their skills. At the other extreme (exploitation), freelancers experience their skills going unrecognized because of competitive bidding for casual gigs. While freelancers with specialized skills are sometimes able to disintermediate, thereby retaining recognition by claiming autonomy and monetary gains, those with generalized skills may resort to gaming, seeking to gain recognition by boosting their ratings. The authors provide insights into freelancers’ effort-bargain experiences by the meanings associated with skill-recognition and skill-exchange.