A Typology of Autonomy in Gig Work: Integrating Perceived, Structural, and Negotiated Autonomy within Self-Determination Theory

Autonomy is a central concept in Self-Determination Theory (SDT) and a key factor influencing motivation, well-being, and performance. However, in gig work, autonomy is neither uniform nor absolute but exists in multiple forms shaped by algorithmic management, platform governance, and worker agency. This article develops a conceptual typology of autonomy in gig work, distinguishing between perceived autonomy, structural autonomy, and negotiated autonomy. Perceived autonomy refers to workers’ subjective sense of freedom, often shaped by platform rhetoric but constrained by algorithmic oversight. Structural autonomy pertains to the formal mechanisms that determine workers’ control over their schedules, task selection, and geographic flexibility. Negotiated autonomy captures the ways in which workers actively reshape or partially circumvent platform constraints through strategies such as multi-platform work, client relationship management, and collective knowledge sharing.

The novelty of this study lies in integrating SDT with insights from platform labour research to conceptualize autonomy as a multidimensional and dynamically constructed phenomenon, rather than a binary condition of control versus freedom. By distinguishing psychological, structural, and interactional dimensions of autonomy, the proposed typology provides a clearer analytical framework for examining worker agency in algorithmically managed labour markets.

As a conceptual study, the article is limited by the absence of empirical testing and relies primarily on the synthesis of existing literature. Future research should empirically validate the proposed typology across different gig sectors and examine how these dimensions of autonomy interact to influence worker well-being, job satisfaction, and long-term sustainability in platform-based work.