What keeps gig workers motivated? A typology of the intrinsic-extrinsic motivation interplay in the digital gig economy

Yuthara Subasinghe, Jameel Shuhaib, Senuri Kelly, Rashini Maleesha, Krishantha Wisenthige and Lochana Perera

PLOS ONE, 2026, vol. 21, issue 9, 1-22

Abstract: The rise of digital platforms has intensified scholarly interest in understanding how gig workers remain motivated. This paper explores the influence of digital skills in shaping gig worker motivation and engagement, with particular focus given to the dynamic interplay between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. A qualitative research design was employed, utilising snowball sampling to garner insights from platform-based gig workers in Sri Lanka. A total of 14 semi-structured interviews were conducted with gig workers primarily engaging in Upwork and Fiverr, with the results being analysed using thematic analysis. The findings reveal that digital skills function beyond technical competencies by being psychological enablers of autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Similarly, intrinsic and extrinsic motivational drivers can interact in a reinforcing or controlling manner creating distinct motivation patterns that shape engagement. Platform providers can utilise these insights to design reinforcement oriented motivational features such as informational feedback systems and transparent performance metrics. The motivation typology offers guidance in developing engagement strategies tailored to different motivational profiles, which will foster economic growth aligned with SDG 8, ensuring decent employment opportunities. Limitations include the focus on the Sri Lankan context which limits the findings to South Asia while restricting broader generalisability. Future research could benefit from employing representative samples across various cultural contexts. This study contributes to the limited empirical work surrounding the psychological mechanisms linking digital skills and gig worker engagement. It offers new insights through the introduction of a motivation interplay matrix and typology which provides a framework for understanding gig worker engagement.

Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:plo:pone00:0345881

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0345881

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