Becoming a gig worker: An exploratory life course study of inbound career trajectories in the UK gig economy

Research provides insights into the characteristics and conditions of gig work, but rarely into how individuals enter it or its long-term implications for careers. We present an exploratory social sequence analysis of UK gig workers to examine how occupational histories and types of gig work are connected. By identifying six distinct career trajectories leading up to participation in the gig economy, our findings suggest that a worker’s preceding career constrains the choice of gig work. We contribute a novel typology of gig work and an application of life course methodology to the study of careers that traverse platforms.