This report presents the results of a study aimed at quantifying the number of people working on digital platforms in the Valencian Community, analysing their profile and working conditions in order to understand this new phenomenon and making recommendations to face the challenges it poses.
This study was developed on the basis of a survey of 2,016 working people. It reveals that 12% of the Valencian population between 16 and 65 years of age works through this type of platform, i.e. around 401,073 people.
The profile of people working on digital platforms is young (under 36), of Spanish origin (85.2%), living in urban areas, with a medium-high socio-economic level, skilled work and, one of the most striking issues, a predominantly self-employed status.
Between 60,000 and 90,000 false self-employed
Along these lines, the study shows that only one in five workers has an employment contract with the platform, while in the traditional economy there are six employees for every self-employed person. In fact, looking at the indications of employment considered by the jurisprudence, the investigation estimates that there are between 60,000 and 90,000 false self-employed people working on platforms in the Valencian territory.
In addition, the study found evidence of under-remuneration as well as undesirable working conditions. For example, almost 60% of digital platform workers work weekends "quite often" and almost half of platform workers "quite often" work more than 10 hours.
On the other hand, one of the conclusions reached is that platform workers consider their situation as a "stepping stone" to other jobs. In this sense, 75% of them are looking for a job. However, this does not mean that they want to leave platform work, as only 1 in 4 are looking for off-platform work. Also, when asked about their priorities in their job search, platform workers prefer firstly that the "new job" should be a salaried one and secondly that it should have an adequate salary.
Finally, the study makes a number of evidence-based recommendations for public bodies:
- Training in basic digital skills.
- Efficient regulation of false self-employed.
- Specific training on occupational hazards.
- Internet connection in rural areas.
- Orientation of public employment services towards platform work.
- Cross-training for work on digital platforms.
These are just some of the ideas presented in the report, and we invite you to explore them by accessing the report's executive summary and the full report
- Executive summary of the report "Work on digital platforms in the Valencian Community" (pdf)
- Full report "Work on digital platforms in the Valencian Community" (pdf)
Other related content:
- New health and safety challenges generated by working on digital platforms
- The European Commission is considering the development of a European directive on digital platform work
- Article by Adrián Todolí: Making algorithms safe for workers: occupational hazards associated with work managed by artificial intelligence
