Online platform work can be a lifeline for those with health problems or poor opportunities to earn a wage, according to research announced 12 August by the Vienna University of Economics and Business.

The study, conducted by Dominik Klaus and his colleagues, found the promise of a flexible income source, achievable from home, continues to draw an ever-growing number of workers to the platform economy, according to the report. This is despite concerns that online platform work can negatively impact health, financial risk, social protection and overall financial stability.

Positive aspects of platform work include the ability to work anytime from anywhere. It can also offer both social and professional satisfaction.

Work that is entirely flexible in terms of time and space is particularly attractive to individuals with limited opportunities in the traditional labour market, according to the study. This includes those who are ill, have restricted mobility or have caregiving responsibilities.

“So, despite all the criticism of precarious working conditions, platform work does have some positive aspects and can also hold the potential for the social inclusion of people who cannot participate in traditional labour markets,” Klaus said in a press release.

The online labour market becomes even more meaningful when other employment options are scarce, whether due to personal circumstances or broader structural factors, the study said.

A paper on the research was published in the journal Social Inclusion.

SIA’s latest report on Talent Platforms was published yesterday showing the market contracted for the first time since we started reporting on it10 years ago.