Unveiling the upsides of low-skilled physical gig work: insights from the gig workers’ perspective in Malaysia

Abstract

ABSTRACT The gig economy has proliferated recently, fuelled by digital platforms and the global pandemic. This shift has transformed the standard employment relationship between employer and employee, making it crucial to understand the gig workers’ performance in this setting. A sequential mixed-methods approach was used to investigate the underlying phenomena. The study commenced with 1st phase of qualitative study through semi-structured interviews to uncover the major themes spurring gig workers’ psychometric dimensions. Six major themes were identified in 1st phase of the qualitative study, two of which were unique to gig work (joy of gig work, work–life balance) while the 2nd phase of the quantitative study revealed that job autonomy, joy of gig work, and work–life balance positively affect work performance. The findings suggest the requisite refinement of gig worker classification, and gig work measurement tools within the context of organisational strategies and policy development considerations.