Migrant Labour in the Gig Economy: Pathways to Upward Mobility or Traps of Precarity?

Digital platform work has emerged as a prominent feature of contemporary labour markets, often hailed for its accessibility and flexibility. For migrant workers in the UK, platform work is frequently framed as a stepping stone into the labour market. However, this article critically examines whether digital platform work fosters economic inclusion or perpetuates exclusion through long-term precarity traps. Drawing on 211 survey responses and 39 semi-structured interviews, we identify five interconnected dimensions of precarity—unpredictable pay, personal life disruption, legal hurdles, gig dependency, and unsafe working conditions—that hinder migrant workers' upward mobility. By applying labour market segmentation theory, the study challenges the prevailing narrative that platform work supports integration and economic advancement. Instead, it exposes the systemic inequities of the gig economy, where migrants face heightened vulnerabilities that confine them to precarious employment. The findings underscore the need for policy reforms and collective action to address the structural barriers that exacerbate labour market segmentation and limit pathways to inclusion, equity, and decent work.