Gig economy insights: key trends, influencers and research directions

Purpose This study aims to conduct a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of the gig economy, focusing on its evolving landscape, key contributors and significant themes by linking the connections from the past to the present using systematic analysis. Design/methodology/approach This study used 657 relevant publications from the Scopus database through a systematic search strategy, meticulous data cleaning and standardisation. This bibliometric analysis used biblioMagika®, OpenRefine, R-Biblioshiny and IIP Maps to portray the findings. Findings This study reveals the patterns of publications, most productive authors, countries, articles and emerging themes in the gig economy. It emphasises that the peak of the pattern was in 2022; the most influential authors were from the UK; the USA led the most published countries; and the highest cited article had 722 cites. Co-occurrence analysis revealed the key themes, including labour regulation, algorithmic management and digital platforms. This study also highlighted the impact of pandemics on gig work and the growing focus on gig worker’s well-being. Research limitations/implications This study relies only on Scopus database publications, which may not cover all the research areas. Yet the findings will have implications for academicians, policymakers and industry practitioners who are developing frameworks and strategies. Originality/value This study maps the intellectual landscape, highlights current key research areas, to offers recommendations concerning areas for future research through key themes. The originality lies in its systematic approach to bibliometric analysis, which provides valuable insights into the gig economy’s discourse.