Labor Initiatives, in cooperation with the sociological company Research.UA,conducted the first comprehensive nationwide study on platform work in Ukraine. This research represents an important step toward understanding the scale, structure, and working conditions associated with the rapidly growing gig economy trends.
The study applies a mixed-methods approach, combining both quantitative and qualitative data. The quantitative phase included a survey of 462 platform workers across Ukraine, providing a broad overview of trends and patterns. The qualitative component consisted of 12 in-depth interviews, allowing for a more nuanced exploration of workers’ lived experiences, challenges, and coping strategies.
The research focuses on different categories of platform workers, including delivery couriers, taxi drivers, interpreters, and other professionals who rely on digital platforms as a primary or supplementary source of income. Particular attention is given to employment arrangements, income stability, working hours, and access to social protections.
The findings highlight a number of structural problems within the platform economy in Ukraine. Among the most pressing issues are the widespread use of undeclared or ambiguously defined labor relationships, the absence of formal employment status, and limited access to basic social guarantees. Many respondents reported lacking essential protections such as paid sick leave, annual leave, health insurance, and pension contributions. The research also points to income insecurity, algorithmic management practices, and limited bargaining power as key challenges faced by platform workers.
Overall, the study underscores significant gaps in labor regulation and social protection mechanisms, emphasizing the need for targeted policy interventions and the modernization of labor legislation to better reflect the realities of platform-based work.
The full research available in English and Ukrainian is by link. The quantitative part. The qualitative part.
