The rapidly expanding gig economy is reshaping work globally bringing new possibilities as well as fresh challenges for those who design, regulate, and navigate these terrains. While prior reviews have examined this area, the last substantial synthesis of information (Bajwa et al., 2018) is now outdated. This scoping review therefore presents an updated global overview of gig workers’ perceptions and experiences between 2018 and 2024, following PRISMA-ScR guidelines. A broad search was undertaken using a wide range of academic databases (EBSCOhost, Scopus, Sage, Springer, Taylor & Francis, Wiley, Google Scholar) and institutional sources such as the International Labour Organization, World Bank, and National Bureau of Economic Research. Twenty-six full-text, English-language studies were included, spanning diverse methodologies and grey literature. Extracted data were charted to map patterns in workers’ experiences and the wider social and economic contexts that influence them. Findings reaffirmed that freedom and control over one’s time remain defining attractions of gig work, particularly among younger workers. Yet, persistent challenges deepened by the COVID-19 pandemic include job insecurity, algorithmic control, limited access to benefits, loneliness, and the emotional strain of precarious work. Educational attainment was linked to greater job satisfaction, while gender and geography continued to shape these experiences, particularly in lower-income regions such as sub-Saharan Africa. The findings call for a rethinking of the various ways in which gig workers may be supported to ensure the safety, stability and dignity that meaningful work should carry.

Sameera Hussain-Khan graduated with a master's degree in Industrial Psychology from the University of KwaZulu-Natal in 2025. Having completed her internship, she has developed particular interest in enhancing employee well-being and driving organizational growth. With a strong foundation in psychometrics, career counselling, and program facilitation, she strives to create positive impacts in the workplace and support employee wellness. Mrs Khan’s research was supervised by Dr Shanya Reuben and Professor Anna Meyer-Weitz from the University of KwaZulu Natal. Both Dr Reuben and Professor Meyer- Weitz are registered Industrial Psychologists with extensive academic and applied research experience.