By Susanne Klausing and Fabian Stephany In 2021, we released the Online Labour Index 2020 (OLI 2020) which allows for new forms of analyses regarding the development of online platform work. In this blog post, we would like to offer some insights into how these features can be used based on the example of descriptive…
Read more
Development in digital communication technologies has made transacting work remotely easier and more economical. Online labour platforms, also known as online outsourcing, crowd-work, or online gig platforms, are at the forefront of this transition. They allow workers to serve multiple clients at varying hours remotely from their homes or co-working spaces instead of working full-time…
Read more
Digital labour platforms have become a pervasive feature of contemporary society. They allow us to order food, arrange a ride, or buy remote freelancing services online. But how are they transforming the world of work? The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has just released its annual flagship report, which this year focuses on platforms. ILO researchers, led by Dr…
Read more
We are excited to announce a new collaboration between the Oxford Internet Institute’s iLabour team and the International Labour Organization (ILO), a United Nations agency. This collaboration is called the Online Labour Observatory—a digital data hub for researchers, policy makers, journalists, and the public interested in the development of online labour markets. Many software developers, graphic…
Read more
We launched the Online Labour Index (OLI) almost five years ago. Since then, it has become a point of reference for scholars and policy experts investigating the market for online gig work, also known as online freelancing and online outsourcing. Next week we’ll be launching the system’s biggest ever update, which introduces wider coverage, new interactive…
Read more
How are online labour markets reacting to the COVID-19 crisis? Does demand for online work diminish, as companies are facing declining revenues and reduce non-essential spending, or could the pandemic lock-down lead to additional demand for remote work? In our recent study “Distancing Bonus or Downscaling Loss? The Changing Livelihood of US Online Workers in Times…
Read more
Digital technologies have created new online marketplaces and industries, and they fundamentally changed how we live and work. But until recently, they have not changed where we work. The internet brought cloud platforms, video calls, and virtual teamwork, but the jobs still clustered in metropolitan areas. The Covid-19 pandemic might now mark a turning point…
Read more