Opportunity and Control: The Dual Role of Labor Platforms

In an earlier post, I discussed the transformation of work over the past few decades, including the shift to learn organizations and rise of contingent workers (aka freelancers). The number of freelancers in the US and around the world continue to grow with the emergence of digital labor platforms. Today, there are an estimated 58–60 million Americans doing freelance work, and many of these workers leverage one or more digital platforms to do so.

Digital labor platforms as markets

To cater to the growing demand for project-and-task-based work, digital labor platforms have emerged as efficient marketplaces connecting independent workers with clients. These labor markets are a means to provide opportunities for workers seeking flexible employment arrangements — short term ‘gigs’ — and for organizations to help absorb market shocks.

Digital labor platforms like Uber, Lyft, Instacart, Amazon Mechanical Turk, Upwork, Fiverr, and many others act as intermediaries, facilitating communication, contract negotiation, and payment systems between independent workers and customers/clients. The platforms provide flexibility for workers who want or need adaptability in terms of work schedule and location. This access to flexible arrangements is what draws many to digital freelancing and…