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oai:figshare.com:article/31063405 2026-09-29T00:30:24Z category_25399 portal_438 item_type_15 month_year_09_2026

Careers and gig work in Sub-Saharan Africa John Burgess (17080606) Business and labour history Career Development Gig Workers Informal Economy Multiple Job Holding Sub-Saharan Africa The growth of gig work over the last decade is partly due to the nature of innovative work arrangements making labour available on demand and for assignment-based activities through apps and digital platforms that enhance access and remote work capability. In Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), such work is largely found in the informal economy that escapes formal employment arrangements and regulations. As such, gig work is not regarded as a threat to formal employment conditions and to legal labour standards. In the context of the predominant informal economy, a career takes on a different conceptualisation from that found in advanced economies. Instead of a linear development process through an occupation or an organisation with protections and standards, a career is defined by informality, insecurity, and holding multiple jobs. The emerging gig economy has the potential to increase employment opportunities but should also address a need for formal procedures and standards in these insecure jobs, and to support career development in SSA.<p></p> 2026-09-29T00:30:24Z Text Chapter 10.4337/9781035318537.00022 https://figshare.com/articles/chapter/Careers_and_gig_work_in_Sub-Saharan_Africa/31063405 CC BY 4.0