Women in gig platform driving

Abstract

The rise of digital platforms offers the potential to transform the informal sector, particularly benefiting developing countries with scarce formal earning opportunities. While these platforms provide flexible hours and lower barriers to entry, women’s participation remains challenged by cultural norms, limited education, and domestic responsibilities. This study empirically examines the experience of women drivers working on digital driving and delivery platforms in India (N women=404, N men=2,153)  and Indonesia (N women=892, N men=2,114), comparing women across countries and also documenting differences in gendered experiences within each country. Our findings suggest that this work provides flexible earning opportunities for women which generally fit their schedules and preferences, however, they are not without challenges as women face gendered safety concerns, and, in Indonesia, explicit discrimination from customers. Despite challenges, in India, digital platforms could catalyze shifts in traditional work landscapes and gender roles.

Introduction 

The rise of digital platforms – entities that act as intermediaries between service providers and clients – offer promises to alleviate existing market frictions by providing more efficient and automated ways to match providers to consumers (Schwellnus et al. 2019). These platforms have reshaped traditional labor markets by offering flexible working hours while also providing more formalized work arrangements and predictability of earnings, compared to work in the informal sector. Digital gig work – tasks are commonly found and executed through online platforms or apps. Examples of digital gig work include tasks like graphic design, writing, software development, or even roles in ride-sharing and food delivery that are organized through digital platforms –  has rapidly expanded, providing work that is not only accessible but also well-suited to various personal and professional constraints. This growth holds particular promise in developing regions, where formal earning opportunities are often scarce – 70% of the workforce is either self-employed or works in the informal sector (WB 2019) –  and workers seek different means to secure their livelihoods. Women in developing countries may especially benefit from the emergence of platform economies since flexibility is one of the features which allows them to work around domestic and childcare duties. 

The participation of women in the labor force in low-and-middle income countries has often been fraught with challenges. Cultural norms, lack of access to education/physical capital, and expectations around unpaid domestic responsibilities collectively hinder many women from pursuing any work outside the home (Jayachandran 2020). Even when opportunities are available, they are frequently in the informal sector, lacking stability, fair compensation, and any legal protections (MSC 2024, Nair 2022, Singh et al. 2011). Platform-based gig work, however, offers women a potential pathway to circumvent some of these barriers by providing flexibility and the means to balance work with familial duties. Yet, despite these opportunities, significant evidence gaps remain, necessitating a close examination of whether and how such platforms can truly empower women economically and socially. 

This paper provides robust descriptive evidence on the female worker experiences within the platform-based gig sector in India and Indonesia.

Read the paper

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

The Digital Economy Research Impact Initiative (DERII) is a five-year initiative (funded by the Gates Foundation) to study the digital economy and its welfare implications on gig workers using platforms that provide location-based services in three countries – India, Kenya, and Indonesia. The full research report from the three countries is available here.