From Control to Agency: A Bibliometric Analysis of Worker Responses in Algorithmic Management in the GIG Economy

HRMARS - This study maps and analyses the research landscape of algorithmic management in the gig economy, focusing on workers’ interpretations, responses, agency, and coping strategies within platform-based environments. A bibliometric analysis of 72 Scopus-indexed articles published between 2019 and 2025 was conducted to assess publication trends, thematic development, citation impact, and collaboration patterns. The findings reveal a shift in the literature from an early focus on algorithmic control, surveillance, and managerial power to a more nuanced understanding of worker agency, resistance, and adaptive behaviour. The study also identifies the United Kingdom and Australia as leading contributors, supported by strong institutional and international collaboration networks. Overall, this research provides a comprehensive overview of the intellectual structure surrounding worker perspectives in algorithmic human resource management, highlighting issues of power, autonomy, and adaptation. It further underscores important social implications, including concerns about worker autonomy, equity, governance, and the evolving nature of employment relationships in digitally mediated gig work contexts.