GIG ECONOMY: THE FUTURE OF WORK OR THE ILLUSION OF FREEDOM? A DATA-DRIVEN ANALYSIS
Roxana HATOS1, Nicoleta-Georgeta BUGNAR2, Andreea-Florina FORA2
1Research Centre for Competitiveness and Sustainable Development, Faculty of Economic Sciences, University of Oradea, Oradea, Romania
2Department of International Business, Faculty of Economic Sciences, University of Oradea, Oradea, Romania
Abstract: This article examines the gig economy as a significant economic phenomenon reshaping labor market structures and dynamics in the digital age. Driven by technological innovation, shifting demand patterns, and the economic disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic, platform-mediated work has introduced flexible, project-based employment models that challenge traditional employment frameworks. From an economic perspective, the gig economy reduces transaction costs, enables labor market adaptability, and fosters entrepreneurship. However, it also contributes to the erosion of job security, weakens collective bargaining power, and increases income volatility—raising critical questions about its macroeconomic and distributive implications. Methodologically, the paper combines theoretical analysis—grounded in Dual Labor Market Theory, Agency Theory, and the concept of the precariat—with a bibliometric mapping of global research trends using VOSviewer and empirical data from international economic institutions. Findings indicate a dual effect: while gig work can enhance labor force participation and economic efficiency, it simultaneously intensifies precarity and creates regulatory asymmetries. Emerging policy responses, including the EU Platform Work Directive and national reforms, highlight efforts to balance labor flexibility with legal and economic protections. The study concludes that the gig economy is not merely a labor trend but an evolving economic model with far-reaching consequences for labor markets, income distribution, and the future of work. Policymakers must address structural imbalances to ensure that economic innovation does not come at the expense of equity and sustainability.
Keywords: Gig economy; digital labor platforms; labor market transformation; precarity; labor economics; platform work; workforce flexibility.
JEL Classification: J08; J24; J62
