Sustainable Development in the Digital Economy: How Platform Exploitation Perception Influences Digital Workers’ Well-Being via Job Rewards and Job Security

Minrui Li, Xuanyan Chen, Zenan Wang and Runan Zhou ()
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Minrui Li: School of Humanities and Communication, Guangdong University of Finance & Economics, Guangzhou 510300, China
Xuanyan Chen: School of Journalism and Communication, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 511400, China
Zenan Wang: School of Journalism and Communication, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 511400, China
Runan Zhou: School of Journalism and Communication, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 511400, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 5, 1-20

Abstract: The rapid advancement of digital technology has significantly transformed the labor market, particularly through the rise of platform-based work. While digital labor platforms offer flexibility and employment opportunities, they also pose challenges such as job insecurity, perceived exploitation, and diminished well-being among workers. This study investigates the impact of platform exploitation perception on the subjective well-being of digital workers, with a focus on the mediating roles of the sense of work gain and work security. Using a specialized questionnaire, data were collected from 763 digital workers across various platforms, including food delivery, ride-hailing, live streaming, and e-commerce. The findings reveal that platform exploitation perception negatively affects subjective well-being, both directly and indirectly, through the chain mediation of work gain and work security. Specifically, higher perceptions of exploitation reduce workers’ sense of gain and security, which in turn diminishes their overall well-being. This research highlights the importance of addressing workers’ psychological and material needs to promote sustainable development in the digital economy. By enhancing transparency, improving income stability, and providing social security, platforms can foster a more equitable and supportive environment for digital workers, ultimately contributing to their long-term well-being and the sustainable growth of the digital economy.

Keywords: digital labor; platform exploitation perception; sense of work security; sense of work gain; subjective well-being; sustainable development (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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