Reassessing job demands-resources theory in the context of the gig economy: an fsQCA study

This study examined the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) theory through an analysis of the gig economy's multifaceted nature, employing a rigorous two-stage qualitative approach. First, data from 17 in-depth interviews underwent thematic, descriptive, and content analysis. Second, the emergent themes were systematically clustered via Fuzzy-Set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA). Set within the context of the gig economy, increasingly credited as a defining feature of contemporary and future labor markets this study critically evaluates the relationship between job demands and resources. The findings were subsequently validated through a focus group discussion with five participants. Results suggest that the gig economy introduces previously unidentified job resource factors beyond those established in the literature, including the security provided by intermediary platforms and improved access to targeted customer segments. We also identified novel job demand factors specific to gig work: commission deductions by intermediary platforms, deteriorating work quality and labor conditions, product or service returns, and customer dissatisfaction. These findings extend JD-R theory by providing a more layered understanding of how job demands and resources manifest in the evolving gig economy context.

JEL Codes: F66, J01, M54.

Received: 02/12/2024. Accepted: 20/03/2025. Published: 04/02/2026.