Call for paper: Digital Labor, Inclusion, and Learning Equity in the Gig Economy

Digital Labor, Inclusion, and Learning Equity in the Gig Economy

The expansion of platform-mediated work has fundamentally reshaped labor markets, creating new possibilities for flexibility and income generation. Yet, these opportunities remain unevenly distributed, with Indigenous and marginalized communities facing persistent barriers in accessing digital infrastructure, developing relevant skills, and achieving equitable recognition within the gig economy. Without inclusive approaches, the rise of digital labor risks deepening rather than reducing social and economic inequalities.

This Special Issue critically examines the intersection of gig work, digital inclusion, and educational equity. Moving beyond fragmented debates on precarious labor or access to technology, it conceptualizes digital platforms as informal learning ecosystems that both enable and constrain opportunities for skills development, credential portability, and agency. Particular attention is paid to how algorithmic management, platform governance, and data practices influence lifelong learning and inclusion for disadvantaged groups.

Contributions will draw on interdisciplinary perspectives from education, labor studies, Indigenous knowledge systems, and digital inclusion research. Themes include structural barriers to digital participation, culturally responsive models of online learning, Indigenous data sovereignty, labor rights education, and cross-country comparisons of policy and practice. By foregrounding Indigenous and marginalized voices, the Special Issue emphasizes the importance of culturally grounded, community-driven models of digital learning equity.

Aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals—SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities)—this Special Issue seeks to provide evidence-based insights for policymakers, platform providers, and educators. We invite theoretical, empirical, and practice-oriented papers that advance both scholarship and actionable strategies for inclusive digital labor futures.

List of topic areas

Gig economy as an informal learning ecosystem;

Digital inclusion and access barriers;

Culturally responsive and community-driven education models;

Algorithmic management and learning equity;

Labor rights and advocacy education;

Intersectionality in digital upskilling;

Indigenous data sovereignty in education;

Public–private partnerships for inclusive digital learning;

Global and comparative perspectives;

Future of inclusive digital labor markets

Submissions Information

Submissions are made using ScholarOne Manuscripts. Registration and access are available here

Author guidelines must be strictly followed. Please see here

Authors should select (from the drop-down menu) the special issue title at the appropriate step in the submission process, i.e. in response to “Please select the issue you are submitting to”.

Submitted articles must not have been previously published, nor should they be under consideration for publication anywhere else while under review for this journal.

Key deadlines