Talent Retention Strategies in the Gig Economy: Challenges, Frameworks, and Future Directions
Abstract
The rapid expansion of the gig economy has introduced a new and structurally distinct form of work arrangement that challenges the foundational assumptions of traditional human resource management. Platform-mediated, project-based, and on-demand work has created a vast global workforce of independent workers who operate outside the conventional boundaries of employment, yet whose skills, engagement, and continued participation are critical to the operational success of the platforms and organisations that rely on them. This paper examines the concept of talent retention in the context of the gig economy, arguing that conventional retention frameworks developed for permanent employment relationships require fundamental reconceptualization when applied to contingent workers. Drawing on theories of psychological contract, self-determination, and organisational commitment, the paper identifies the principal drivers of gig worker disengagement and attrition, reviews the retention strategies being adopted by leading platform organisations, and evaluates their effectiveness. The paper further addresses the structural tensions between platform flexibility and worker security, the role of algorithmic management in shaping worker experience, and the implications of emerging regulatory frameworks for gig worker retention. Research gaps and future directions are identified, with particular attention to the under-studied dimensions of gig work in emerging economies.
Authors
Annu Sharma, Pallavi Kumari, Parth Kumar, Pooja Kumari, Prahlad Kumar
Institution
NIET Business School, Greater Noida, India
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