Abstract
Orientation: Ride-hailing services have gained popularity in South Africa because of their ability to provide a reliable alternative to traditional modes of transport. However, little is known about ride-hailing drivers.Research purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the ride-hailing drivers’ job satisfaction levels and the challenges they experienced.Motivation for the study: This study was motivated by the lack of scholarly information on the experiences of drivers involved in ride-hailing in the context of South Africa.Research design, approach and method: This study adopted a pragmatic approach through a mixed-method, survey-based design. Fifty-three ride-hailing drivers were randomly interviewed in Johannesburg, South Africa, using a pre-designed and piloted questionnaire. Data were analysed using methods of descriptive interpretation and inductive thematic analysis.Main findings: A descriptive statistical analysis showed that most ride-hailing drivers provide the service to earn their primary income. Furthermore, a thematic analysis found that ride-hailing drivers felt unsafe providing these services because of the violence they experienced from minibus taxi operators in the region.Practical/managerial implications: In a country plagued by unemployment, the development of small businesses is an important income-generating opportunity for many. To further develop the employment potential of the growing ride-hailing industry, governments at various levels should provide greater support and safety measures for ride-hailing drivers.Contribution/value-add: This study contributes a unique dataset in exploring ride-hailing drivers’ self-employment, job satisfaction and challenges in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Highlights
According to the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS), unemployment was 30.8% in quarter 3 of 2020 (Statistics South Africa 2020), a record high for the country
Descriptive statistics related to ride-hailing drivers’ economic and financial well-being provide a clear picture of the employment creation potential of ride-hailing services in South Africa
The bulk of ride-hailing literature focuses on various consumer and legislative aspects of the industry, and ride-hailing drivers receive relatively little attention in scholarly literature
Summary
According to the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS), unemployment was 30.8% in quarter 3 of 2020 (Statistics South Africa 2020), a record high for the country. Mahadea and Kaseeram (2018) suggest a strong push factor from unemployment to entrepreneurship – necessity entrepreneurship. This gives rise to the growing informal and township economies, where vulnerable populations such as women and youth are able to enter the labour market through enterprise (Charman 2016), and participate in the economy. Ride-hailing companies became popular in South Africa in 2015, creating an opportunity for selfemployment. In addition to minibus and metered taxi discontent, ride-hailing drivers in South Africa face other challenges, such as targeted hijackings (Kimberley 2019) and increased operating costs because of a lack of vehicle ownership (De Greef 2018)
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