Quality of Life And Sustainability In The Gig Economy: An Empirical Study Of Workers’ Well-Being And Platform Dependence
Keywords:
gig economy quality of life sustainability social protection SEM-PLSAbstract
The gig economy has rapidly expanded as digital platforms transform labor markets and create new forms of short-term, flexible work. While this model provides autonomy and income opportunities, it also raises critical questions about workers’ quality of life and the long-term viability of such employment. This research examines how gig work affects quality of life and its consequences for maintaining sustainable livelihoods. Drawing on the dimensions of income security, work–life balance, and access to social protection, this study proposes a model in which quality of life mediates the relationship between gig work characteristics and overall livelihood outcomes. Data were collected through an online survey of 151 active gig workers in Indonesia. The analysis employed Structural Equation Modeling–Partial Least Squares (SEM–PLS) to examine relationships among constructs. The results indicate that while flexibility and autonomy positively influence perceived well-being, income instability and lack of benefits reduce overall satisfaction. Furthermore, quality of life significantly predicts workers’ long-term engagement, indicating that those with higher satisfaction and security are more likely to perceive gig work as a viable career path. This study contributes to the literature by integrating quality of life and sustainability perspectives in gig work research. Findings support the need for adaptive labor policies that balance flexibility with social protection to ensure inclusive and resilient digital employment.
References
Agusalim, L., Siregar, H., Anggraeni, L., & Mulatsih, S. (2025). Unveiling the Profile of Low-Wage Workers in Indonesia. Jurnal Ketenagakerjaan, 20(1), 108–127.
https://doi.org/10.47198/naker.v20i1.471
Alfarizi, M., Noer, L. R., & Arifin Noer, B. (2025). Technological Support, Hybrid Work, and National Employment Policies: Catalysts for Worker Productivity and SDG 8 Achievement in Indonesia’s Gig Economy. Jurnal Ketenagakerjaan, 20(1). https://doi.org/10.47198/jnaker.v20i1.440
Ardiatama, F. R., & Irmawati, I. (2025). Analisis Pengaruh Gig Economy Dan Mindfulness Terhadap Loyalitas Pekerja Melalui Mediasi Kesejahteraan. Paradoks : Jurnal Ilmu Ekonomi, 8(1), 593-620. https://doi.org/10.57178/paradoks.v8i1.1176
Azhar Humaira Syabani, Anita Silvianita, Arry Widodo, & Nurafni Rubiyanti. (2024). Flexibility and Social Security in Gig Workers: A Study of Gig Worker Welfare in Bandung City. Formosa Journal of Multidisciplinary Research, 3(6), 211–225. https://doi.org/10.55927/fjmr.v3i6.9453
Berg, J. (2016). Income Security in The On-Demand Economy : Findings and Policy Lessons from a Survey of Crowdworkers. Comparative Labor Law & Policy Journal, 37(3), 543–576.
Chung, H., & Seo, H. (2024). Flexibility Stigma Across Europe: How National Contexts can Shift the Extent to which Flexible Workers are Stigmatised. Social Indicators Research, 174(3), 945–965. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-024-03420-w
Damanik, R., & Zebua, H. I. (2025). When Informality Meets Poverty: Vulnerability of Informal Workers in North Sumatra’s Rural and Urban Divide. Jurnal Ketenagakerjaan, 20.
https://doi.org/10.47198/naker.v20i1.463
De Stefano, V. (2015). The Rise of the “Just-in-Time Workforce”: On-Demand Work, Crowd Work and Labour Protection in the “Gig-Economy.” Comperative Labor Law & Policy Journal, 37(3),
471–504. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2682602
Diener, E. (1984). Subjective Well-Being. Psychological Bulletin, 95(3), 542–575. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.95.3.542
Dziembala, M., & Mărcuţ, M. (2023). Digital Transformation Processes in Society and the Economy: The Role of the International Labour Organization and the European Union. In Global Public Goods and Sustainable Development in the Practice of International Organizations: Responding to Challenges of Today’s World. Brill. https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004687264_017
Eurofound. (2018). Employment And Working Conditions Of Selected Types Of Platform Work. Publications Office of the European Union. https://www.eurofound.europa.eu/en/publications/all/employment-and-working-conditions-selected-types-platform-work
Graham, M., Hjorth, I., & Lehdonvirta, V. (2017). Digital Labour And Development: Impacts Of Global Digital Labour Platforms And The Gig Economy On Worker Livelihoods. Transfer:
European Review of Labour and Research, 23(2), 153–171. https://doi.org/10.1177/1024258916687250
Hair, J. F. ., Hult, G. T. M. ., Ringle, C. M. ., & Sarstedt, Marko. (2021). A Primer on Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) (3rd ed.). SAGE Publications, Inc.
Hall, J. V., & Krueger, A. B. (2018). An Analysis of the Labor Market for Uber’s Driver-Partners in the United States. ILR Review, 71(3), 705–732. https://doi.org/10.1177/0019793917717222
Hendrickx, F. (2023). Platform work and beyond. In European Labour Law Journal (Vol. 14, Issue 4, pp. 465–473). https://doi.org/10.1177/20319525231210744
ILO, I. L. O. (2018). Digital Labour Platforms and The Future of Work: Towards Decent Work in The Online World (J. Berg, M. Furrer, E. H. U. Rani, & M. S. Silberman, Eds.). International Labour Office. https://www.ilo.org/sites/default/files/wcmsp5/groups/public/@dgreports/@dcomm/@publ/doc
uments/publication/wcms_645337.pdf
Johnston, H., & Land-Kazlauskas, C. (2018). Organizing On-Demand: Representation, Voice, And Collective Bargaining In The Gig Economy. In ILO Working Papers (Vol. 94, Issue 94).
International Labour Organization.
Kalleberg, A. L. ., & Vallas, S. P. . (2018). Precarious Work (1st ed., Vol. 31). Emerald Publishing Limited.
Kalleberg, A. L., & Dunn, M. (2016). Good Jobs, Bad Jobs in the Gig Economy. Perspectives on Work, 20, 10–14.
Kim, Y. G., Chung, Y. K., & Woo, E. (2023). Gig Workers’ Quality of Life (QoL) and Psychological Well-Being in Service Delivery Platform. Sustainability, 15(11), 8679.
https://doi.org/10.3390/su15118679
Kurian, J. S., & Bindu Madhavi, N. (2024). Navigating The Gig Economy: Exploring Challenges and Motivations for The Wellbeing of Gen Y and Gen Z Gig Workers. Cogent Psychology, 11(1),
235–252. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311908.2024.2357458
Nawaz, Z., Talib, M. N. A., & Abbas, A. (2025). Gig Workers As Sustainable Human Resource: A Study Of Freelancer Value Proposition And Its Impact On Platform Usage Intentions. Human
Systems Management, 44(2), 302–318. https://doi.org/10.3233/HSM-240049
Pawłowska, Z., Ordysiński, S., Pęciłło, M., & Galwas-Grzeszkiewicz, M. (2025). A Study of Working Conditions in Platform Work. Sustainability, 17(14), 6536. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17146536
Pertiwi, E., Purnagunawan, R. M., Hadiyanto, F., Citra, V., & Suchendar, D. (2025). Do Skills Matter in Influencing Employment for People with Disabilities? Exploring the Role of ICT Skills and Education. Jurnal Ketenagakerjaan, 1. https://doi.org/10.47198/naker.v20i1.480
Pesole, A. ., Urzí Brancati, M. C. ., Fernández-Macías, E. ., Biagi, F. ., & González Vázquez, I. . (2018). Platform workers in Europe : evidence from the COLLEEM survey: Vol. EUR 29275 EN]. Publications Office of the European Union.
Prassl, J. (2018). Humans as a Service: The Promise and Perils of Work in the Gig Economy (1st ed.). Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780198797012.001.0001
Rani, U., & Furrer, M. (2021). Digital Labour Platforms and New Forms of Flexible Work in Developing Countries: Algorithmic Management of Work and Workers. Competition & Change,
25(2), 212–236. https://doi.org/10.1177/1024529420905187
Setiawan, A. (2025). Reforming Gig Economy in Indonesia: A Sustainable Model to Support 8% Economic Growth. APINDO SMEs and Sustainability Journal, 1(1), 22–40.
https://journal.apindo.or.id/assj/article/view/64
Sirgy, M. J. (2002). The Psychology of Quality of Life (Vol. 12). Springer Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-9904-7
Sitorus, A. A., & Kornitasari, Y. (2024). Analisis Tingkat Kesejahteraan Pekerja Gig Di Indonesia. Journal of Development Economic and Social Studies, 3(2), 155–172. https://doi.org/10.21776/jdess.2024.03.2.16
Stevania, M., & Hoesin, S. H. (2024). Analisis Kepastian Hukum Jaminan Sosial Ketenagakerjaan Bagi Gig Worker Pada Era Gig Economy Di Indonesia. Jurnal Ilmiah Penegakan Hukum, 11(2), 89–104. https://doi.org/10.31289/jiph.v11i2.11968
Sugiyanto, S., Rakhmatullah, B. R., & Pratama, E. A. (2025). Fulfillment of Legal Certainty for Government Employees with Employment Agreements as State Civil Apparatus. Kosmik Hukum,
25(3), 589–608. https://doi.org/10.30595/kosmikhukum.v25i3.26069
Tobing, H. (2024). The Gig Economy Dilemma: Exploring Alternatives to Create Decent Work for Online Motorcycle Taxi Drivers in Indonesia. Jurnal Ketenagakerjaan, 19(2), 120–138.
https://doi.org/10.47198/jnaker.v19i2.340
UNDP. (2020). Human Development Report 2020 : The Next Frontier - Human Development and the Anthropocene. United Nations Development Programme. https://hdr.undp.org/system/files/documents/hdr2020.pdf
Veen, A., Barratt, T., & Goods, C. (2020). Platform-Capital’s ‘App-etite’ for Control: A Labour Process Analysis of Food-Delivery Work in Australia. Work, Employment and Society, 34(3), 388–406. https://doi.org/10.1177/0950017019836911
Wood, A. J., Graham, M., Lehdonvirta, V., & Hjorth, I. (2019). Good Gig, Bad Gig: Autonomy and Algorithmic Control in the Global Gig Economy. Work, Employment and Society, 33(1), 56–75. https://doi.org/10.1177/0950017018785616
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Indonesia Forum on Labour and Productivity
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.