The characteristics of online freelance workers: are generation and gender relevant in terms of those working in the gig economy?

João Lins; Maria José Tonelli; Andrea Oltramari

doi:10.1590/1679-395120250126x

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João Lins Getúlio Vargas Foundation https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8271-8563
- Conceptualization
- Data Curation
- Investigation
- Resources
- Writing – Original Draft Preparation
- Writing – Review & Editing
Maria José Tonelli Getúlio Vargas Foundation https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6585-1493
- Conceptualization
- Supervision
- Writing – Original Draft Preparation
- Writing – Review & Editing
Andrea Oltramari Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5897-2772
- Writing – Original Draft Preparation
- Writing – Review & Editing

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/1679-395120250126x

Keywords:

gig economy, qualified gig work, digital platform, gender, age diversity

Abstract

Research into gig economy workers usually explores topics such as working conditions and types of work. There is a gap in the research, however, when it comes to studies involving qualified workers, especially those who live in remote regions of the world. This study characterizes and analyzes qualified online freelance workers who live in Latin America. Two surveys were carried out with a total of 2159 Brazilian individuals who are registered on two digital platforms in Latin America that connect qualified workers with organizations and projects. Logistic regressions were used that showed that young workers seek this type of work in order to learn new activities and earn better pay, while women seek flexibility. Workers with less education see platform-mediated work as being a way of achieving better pay, while older workers want to return to stable jobs.

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Author Biographies

João Lins, Getúlio Vargas Foundation

Professor at the São Paulo School of Business Administration, Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV EAESP).

Maria José Tonelli, Getúlio Vargas Foundation

Full Professor at the São Paulo School of Business Administration, Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV EAESP).

Andrea Oltramari, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul

Associate Professor at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) School of Management and the Graduate Program in Management (PPGA/UFRGS); Research Fellow at ISEG Research, University of Lisbon.