Mapping research on well-being of gig workers: A bibliometric analysis

Abstract

Background

The rapid expansion of the gig economy has significantly influenced workers’ psychological and physical well-being, along with their overall quality of life. While gig workers enjoy the autonomy to choose their tasks, location, and clients, the constant need to switch roles, manage irregular schedules, and take on multiple gigs to sustain income often creates stress and undermines their work–life balance.

Objective

This study aims to assess the existing body of research on the well-being of gig workers, with the goal of identifying significant aspects, emerging patterns, and potential topics for future research studies.

Methods

The authors manually integrated datasets from the Scopus and Web of Science databases, resulting in a total of 478 documents for bibliometric analysis. R-studio software was utilized for performance analysis, and Vos viewer for keyword cluster visualization.

Results

The analysis shows that Frontiers of Psychology is at the forefront with 16 publications, emphasizing the role of psychology in understanding gig workers’ well-being. The United States stands out as the leading contributor, showcasing its research dominance in the global north and emphasizing the importance of involvement from other regions. Davis SN and Oviedo-Trespalacios O are among the most prolific scholars. University College London produces the highest number of publications, suggesting that a small core of scholars and institutions leads the discussion. The influential paper ‘Good Gig, Bad Gig: Autonomy and Algorithmic Control in the Global Gig Economy’ often mentions ‘autonomy’ and ‘algorithmic control’, emphasizing the ongoing debate between flexibility and precarity. Overall, these findings outline current research trends and offer practical insights for policymakers, as well as guidance for future research directions.

Conclusion

The findings suggest that the well-being of gig workers has recently received the attention of scholars. Nevertheless, a noticeable gap exists across several dimensions of the well-being of gig workers, underscoring the need for future scholarly enquiry in greater depth.