Career sustainability in the gig economy: a delicate balancing act

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

As the gig economy expands, ambiguity in understanding gig work and its dynamics poses challenges to both research and practice. This chapter focuses on the crucial need to comprehend and nurture sustainable careers within this complex context. Gig workers navigate multi-layered realities, which are marked by tensions across time, person, and context dimensions. Career sustainability is desired, yet often elusive, due to the gig economy's structure. This paradox forms a meta-tension, making sustainable career attainment a critical but challenging objective. It underscores an urgency to decipher mechanisms that allow gig workers to build stable, satisfying, and sustainable careers despite these inherent tensions. Through the investigation and untangling of these ambiguities and complexities, we provide a foundation that facilitates further exploration and discovery of strategies to foster sustainable careers within the rapidly evolving gig landscape.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationResearch Handbook of Careers in the Gig Economy
EditorsJ. Akkermans, A. Keegan, F. Pichault
PublisherEdward Elgar Publishing Ltd.
Chapter4
Pages51-66
Number of pages16
ISBN (Electronic)9781035318537
ISBN (Print)9781035318520
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 13 Mar 2025

Publication series

SeriesResearch Handbooks in Business and Management series

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