Plattformnutzung durch Solo-Selbstständige: Explorative Befunde und forschungsstrategische Perspektiven

Depperschmidt Rina (), Matton Heleen (), Pongratz Hans () and Probst Pia ()
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Depperschmidt Rina: Input Consulting gGmbH, Projekt Haus der Selbstständigen, Jacobstraße 5, 04105 Leipzig, Deutschland
Matton Heleen: Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Konradstraße 6, 80801 München, Deutschland
Pongratz Hans: Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Konradstraße 6, 80801 München, Deutschland
Probst Pia: Input Consulting gGmbH, Projekt Haus der Selbstständigen, Jacobstraße 5, 04105 Leipzig, Deutschland

Arbeit, 2024, vol. 33, issue 1-2, 3-27

Abstract: Platform labour has become an important employment option for the solo self-employed. This connection has not yet been investigated sufficiently, although research suggests similar conditions for both modes of employment. Through a qualitative survey, we analysed the platform experiences of 20 solo self-employed workers from three professional fields in a comparative perspective: Yoga instructors, language teachers and social media content creators. Despite different ways of making use of platform services, the results are similar: considerable effort is required for additional income, but tools and information offered by the platforms can make work easier. The solo self-employed experience many of the dependencies and intensified competitiveness in online markets that are known from platform research. Only a few creators succeed in finding their way out of precarious self-employment through platform work. The article argues for a stronger connection of the two fields of research and for improving the conditions of platform labour through institutional provisions for solo self-employment.

Keywords: Solo self-employment; platform labour; digitalisation of work; precarious employment; Solo-Selbstständigkeit; Plattformarbeit; Digitalisierung von Arbeit; prekäre Beschäftigung; Solo self-employment; platform labour; digitalisation of work; precarious employment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:bpj:arbeit:v:33:y:2024:i:1-2:p:3-27:n:1002

DOI: 10.1515/arbeit-2024-0002

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