Category: Online Labour Index

Introducing the Online Labour Observatory: Data on female participation in the remote gig economy and more

We are excited to announce a new collaboration between the Oxford Internet Institute’s iLabour team and the International Labour Organization (ILO), a United Nations agency. This collaboration is called the Online Labour Observatory—a digital data hub for researchers, policy makers, journalists, and the public interested in the development of online labour markets. Many software developers, graphic… Read More »

It’s Time to Talk about Consumer Strategies on Algorithmic Platforms

By Godofredo Ramizo Jr. – Oxford Internet Institute What clever strategies do consumers employ when dealing with algorithmic platforms such as Uber, Amazon, and Deliveroo, among others? And how do these consumer strategies affect the welfare of platform workers and the interests of the platform company? Many researchers have already explored how platform workers strategise… Read More »

How big is the online labour workforce? Our data-driven approach to this tricky question

Development in digital communication technologies has made transacting work remotely easier and more economical. Online labour platforms, also known as online outsourcing, crowd-work, or online gig platforms, are at the forefront of this transition. They allow workers to serve multiple clients at varying hours remotely from their homes or co-working spaces instead of working full-time… Read More »

ILO report: The role of digital labour platforms in transforming the world of work

Digital labour platforms have become a pervasive feature of contemporary society. They allow us to order food, arrange a ride, or buy remote freelancing services online. But how are they transforming the world of work? The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has just released its annual flagship report, which this year focuses on platforms. ILO researchers,… Read More »

Pandemic-proof jobs? IT freelancers in high demand, other online workers facing cuts

How are online labour markets reacting to the COVID-19 crisis? Does demand for online work diminish, as companies are facing declining revenues and reduce non-essential spending, or could the pandemic lock-down lead to additional demand for remote work? In one of our last iLabour blog posts, we briefly talked about these two opposite effects, as… Read More »