Knowledge Brief

This Short Note is part of a series based on the report Working without Borders: The Promise and Peril of Online Gig Work that aims to promote discussion among policy makers and practitioners on opportunities in online gig work. Gig workers, including self-employed individuals, often find themselves in a "missing middle" when it comes to social insurance coverage. With a focus on developing countries, this note answers the question, “how can policy makers leverage online gig platforms to extend social insurance to informal gig workers?”.

This Cedefop CrowdLearn study undertakes a comparative analysis of skill development and workplace learning practices among two major types of online platform work: online freelancing and microwork. It combines information on microworkers drawn from Amazon’s Mechanical Turk platform with the original CrowdLearn sample of online freelancers surveyed from three major online labour platforms (Fiverr, Upwork, PeoplePerHour). 

Information and communication technologies have long been predicted to spread economic opportunities to rural areas. However, the actual trend in the 21st century has been the opposite. Knowledge spillovers have fueled urbanization and pulled job-seekers into large cities, increasing the gap with rural areas. In this article, the authors argue that new assemblages of technologies and social practices, so-called ‘online labour platforms’, have recently started to counter this trend. 

This Short Note is the first in a series based on the report "Working without Borders: The Promise and Peril of Online Gig Work," aimed at sparking discussions among policymakers and practitioners regarding opportunities in online gig work. The focus of this short note is on youth employment and online gig work.

This Discussion Note is part of the S4YE series focusing on the design and implementation of youth employment programs. The Note focuses on the creative and cultural industries and delves into how the advent of disruptive technology is likely to transform businesses, create new jobs and change the nature of existing ones that are part of creative and cultural industries. The Note discusses three main types of technologies that are increasingly being adapted across creative economy sectors: Artificial intelligence (AI), Cloud and Blockchain, Augmented and Virtual
Reality (AR/VR). 

The demand for gig work is surging in developing countries, with anticipated continued growth. This S4YE short note explores current trends, addressing key questions about the countries driving demand, types of companies hiring gig workers, and factors influencing their decisions.

This S4YE note examines women's participation in online gig work, contrasting their motivations with those of their male counterparts and outlining the typical profiles of male and female gig workers regarding age, education, working hours, and involvement in freelancing communities. It delves into how these workers identify themselves in relation to the platform or their clients and highlights the key benefits they seek from online gig platforms. The note also identifies critical skills crucial for success in this domain, suggesting potential areas for performance improvement.

This S4YE Knowledge Brief series highlights job matching platforms employed by public agencies that leverage advanced technology to connect job seekers and employers. It explores trends in technical features, deployment, and implementation of these platforms, catering to practitioners seeking insights into the practical implications of technology-driven employment solutions.

This note is part of a series of Solutions for Youth Employment (S4YE) knowledge briefs focused on the Orange Economy or creative sectors. This third note discusses the film industry and its potential to be a source of jobs for youth. It highlights the contribution of the film industry to employment generation, economic growth, the formation of cultural and social values, and identity. The note also delves into emerging labor market trends in the film industry and analyzes the sector’s workforce composition by gender, education, and age.

This S4YE Discussion Note explores the role of the blue economy, especially fisheries, as a source of productive and sustainable jobs for youth. The research discusses the importance of understanding how the blue economy is changing in response to trends in technological innovation, environmental concerns, and the move towards a circular economy.