Assessing the Factors Influencing Work Engagement among Gig Workers: An Empirical Study
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21876945
Dr. S. Karthikeyan, Dr Ruchi Tripathi, Dr. Deepika R, Dr Urvashi Anand Ohri, Dr. K. Aswini
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Keywords:
Gig economy, Work engagement, Algorithmic fairness, Organizational support, Work autonomy, Psychological empowerment, SmartPLS.
Abstract:
The rapid expansion of the gig economy has transformed employment relationships by offering flexible work opportunities while simultaneously creating challenges related to job security, organizational support, and worker engagement. Despite the increasing dependence of organizations on gig workers, limited empirical evidence exists regarding the factors that foster work engagement within this workforce, particularly in developing economies. This study investigates the influence of perceived organizational support, work autonomy, algorithmic fairness, psychological empowerment, and financial satisfaction on work engagement among gig workers. Drawing upon Job Demands–Resources Theory and Social Exchange Theory, the study proposes a conceptual framework explaining how organizational and technological factors contribute to employee engagement in platform-based work environments. A structured questionnaire using validated five-point Likert scale items will be administered to approximately 400 gig workers employed in ride-hailing, food delivery, freelancing, logistics, and online service platforms. The collected data will be analyzed using SmartPLS 4 to examine the measurement and structural models. The study is expected to contribute to the emerging literature on gig employment by identifying the key drivers of engagement and providing practical implications for digital platform organizations to enhance worker motivation, commitment, and sustainable performance.