The Gig Economy in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: Implications for Sustainable Development
ideal research review · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · 1 Jun 2026
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Where this sits in the debate
Direction of the finding as read from the abstract by an AI model (AI-written).
Key takeaway AI-written
A literature review (2022-2026) on AI-managed gig work and the UN goal of decent work. It reports that AI-enabled platforms widen participation and flexibility, especially for young workers in developing economies, but bring income instability, limited social protection and algorithmic control.
Abstract
The rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has significantly transformed labor markets byenabling AI-driven gigification, where digital platforms organize work through task-based employmentmodels and algorithmic management systems. This study examines the implications of AI-driven gigwork for sustainable development, focusing on employment quality, worker well-being, autonomy,sustainability outcomes, and Sustainable Development Goal 8 (SDG 8): Decent Work and EconomicGrowth. The study adopts a qualitative descriptive research design based on a systematic review of literaturepublished between 2022 and 2026, including academic studies, policy reports, and industry publications.The findings reveal that AI-enabled gig platforms enhance labor market participation, flexibility,productivity, and economic opportunities, particularly for youth and workers in developing economies.However, challenges such as income instability, limited social protection, algorithmic control, reducedworker autonomy, and uncertain career sustainability remain significant. The study highlights that AIdriven gigification can support sustainable development only when accompanied by effective regulatoryframeworks, transparent algorithmic practices, and innovative Human Resource Management (HRM)strategies. The research concludes that balancing technological innovation with worker protection isessential to achieving inclusive economic growth and the objectives of SDG8.
About this publication
Preprint. A preprint — posted publicly before or without journal peer review; findings may still be revised.
- Published
- 2026 (5 months ago)
- Citations
- 0 (OpenAlex)
0 citations recorded by OpenAlex — too few 2026 papers in this collection for a fair comparison.
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