Understanding the prevalence and nature of platform work: the measurement case in the COLLEEM survey study

The advancements in technology and the rise of the platform economy have increased the range of non-standard work arrangements and changed the structure of work organisation. Media, academics and policy makers devoted much attention to “gig workers” and new ways of providing labour services via online platforms. Although there is abundant anecdotal evidence of the changing nature of work, reliable and complete data are still scant. Measurement of platform work is still a challenge, primarily because of the lack of a shared and common definition. This chapter discusses the advantages and disadvantages of different approaches for collecting data through ad-hoc surveys, ranging from the challenge of finding an encompassing definition of platform work, to the definition of the attributes that will shape the final metrics for the estimate of platform work prevalence. The chapter aims at defining a statistical framework, addressing both conceptual and operational challenges.