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INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GLOBAL RESEARCH INNOVATIONS & TECHNOLOGY (IJGRIT) [ Vol. 4 | No. 3 | July - September, 2026 ]

Beyond Task Design: The Synergistic Influence of Job and Social Characteristics on Gig Workers, Job Satisfaction

Dr. M.V.S. Ramalakshmi, Dr. P.Jayasaradadevi & Dr. S. Rajani

Due to the fast growth of gig work, there has appeared a unique type of workforce, which is distinguished by non-continuity in employment, algorithmic management, and intense customer interactions. As opposed to conventional work settings, job satisfaction among gig workers is influenced not only by core job features but also by social relationships formed in the process of platform work. Although gig work is gaining relevance, there is a shortage of empirical studies that combine job and social features. In order to fill this gap, this study develops and empirically verifies an integrated model. According to the model, job satisfaction is affected by job characteristics (autonomy, skill use, engagement and interest, and job stability) and social characteristics (social respectfulness, mutual trust, and platform support). The model was developed using the job design perspective and the perspective of social exchange. Following the recommendations of Hair, Ringle, and Sarstedt (2011), reflective indicators were used to measure the constructs. To test the proposed model, Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) analysis was conducted using survey data collected from gig workers from various digital labor platforms in Visakhapatnam district, India. The findings reveal that both job attributes and social attributes have a strong impact on gig worker job satisfaction, as the proposed model accounts for a significant amount of variance in job satisfaction. This study contributes to the development of research on the gig economy by offering some valuable information for the designers of platforms as well as policymakers interested in promoting sustainable gig work through these attributes.

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