Anticipating and managing the impact of change
Abstract
Platform work– the matching of supply and demand for paid labour through an online platform – is still small in scale but is expected to grow. Accordingly, it is important to anticipate the opportunities and risks related to this business model and employment form. This report explores potential scenarios for two selected types of platform work by 2030, drawing on Eurofound’s ‘Future scenarios of platform work’ project. It assesses the expected implications for the economy, labour market and society if these potential futures were realised. On this basis, policy pointers show what could be done to facilitate desirable and avoid undesirable futures. These policy pointers consider how to capitalise on the opportunities inherent in on-location platform work, the need for regulatory clarity and enforcement, issues around worker representation, and the embeddedness of platform work in the digital age.
Key findings
In economically challenging times, such as the current COVID-19 pandemic, a low-barrier entry to employment forms like platform work can be beneficial for those most affected, such as the young or low-skilled. However, unfavourable side effects, like potentially getting stuck in a job with worse working conditions, social protection and career opportunities, must not be neglected.
It is important to ensure that platform work acts as a stepping stone into standard employment for those who wish so, rather than resulting in labour market segmentation or crowding out of traditional jobs.
A common finding across all scenarios is that the growth of platform work in rural areas could be fostered, through a combination of awareness raising of the population and workforce, and by incentivising platforms to offer their services there, including platforms with alternative governance structures (e.g. owned by the municipality).
The establishment of such labour platforms can serve a double benefit of improving the working conditions of the affiliated workers and providing accessible and affordable services of public interest.
With sound framework conditions, platform work can also be strategically used to foster an entrepreneurial spirit. Platform workers genuinely acting as self-employed can be supported in trying out or expanding their economic activity.
This report contains the following listing of tables and figures.
List of figures
- Figure 1: Selected opportunities and risks of different types of platform work
- Number of pages
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22
- Reference nº
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EF20012
- ISBN
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978-92-897-2114-1
- Catalogue nº
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TJ-02-20-661-EN-N
- DOI
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10.2806/660867
- Permalink
Listed below are the 10 potential platform work scenarios that were derived through this project.
Platform economy repository - Future scenarios
- Business as usual
- Technological dystopia
- Worst case
- Robust and consistent EU response
- Regulate to innovate
- Clear employment status benefits all workers and worker cooperatives
- Worker and trade union power
- Regulation-driven and emphasis on public platforms
- Matching, only matching
- Economic downturn and partial regulatory response
Cite this publication
Eurofound (2020), Back to the future: Policy pointers from platform work scenarios, New forms of employment series, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg.
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