A study of the peculiarities of freelance activity of the Russian population on online labor market platforms

The relevance of the study is determined by the emergence and consolidation of new trends in the implementation of labor activity of the population in the context of digitalization and new challenges, as well as the need for their comprehensive study.

The purpose of the study is to study the peculiarities of freelance activity of the Russian population on online labor market platforms, as well as to identify a set of measures necessary to obtain benefits from the implementation of this type of activity in order to stabilize the labor market during a period of change and reduce social tension.

The objectives of the study are related to the analysis of supply and demand for the services of Russian freelancers on international online labor market platforms, including by comparing its positions with other countries; identifying measures to optimize the activities of online freelancers and stabilize the labor market during the period of change.

Methodology. The research was implemented using the method of collecting information from open Internet sources, tabular and graphical methods, the method of economic analysis, analysis and synthesis, systematization, comparison, logical method and systematic approach.

Results. It is determined that the freelance activity of the Russian population in the online format has great growth potential. The prerequisites for the development of online freelancing are highlighted, as well as the motives for Russian specialists entering the digital platforms of the global labor market. The analysis of the supply and demand of online freelancers on the largest online employment platforms in the period 2017-2022 was carried out. The specifics of Russia are revealed in comparison with the trends typical for China, India, Germany, Great Britain and the USA.

Conclusion. The conclusion is made about the high activity of Russian freelancers on the online platforms of the global labor market, about the predominantly growing dynamics of this market segment, as well as about the existing restrictions in this area, which can be overcome by greater support from the state.

1. Galieva G.F., Sazanova E.V., Dik E.N., Amineva R.R. A study of current trends in the participation of the population of the BRIC and OECD countries in the global online labor market. Izvestiya YugoZapadnogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta. Seriya: Ekonomika. Sotsiologiya. Menedzhment = Proceedings of the Southwest State University. Series: Economics, Sociology and Management. 2023;13(3):10-23 (In Russ.).

2. Karpunina E.K., Moiseev S.S., Karpunin K.D. Transformation of the labor market during the pandemic: new risks of economic security. Drukerovskij vestnik = Drucker's Bulletin. 2022;(1):156-165 (In Russ.).

3. Nazarova I.G., Galieva G.F., Sazanova E.V., Chernenko E.M., Karpunina E.K. Labor market and employment problems: analysis of long-term dynamics and prospects of development in russian regions. In: Imitation Market Modeling in Digital Economy: Game Theoretic Approaches, Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems. Vol. 368. Cham: Springer; 2022. P. 711-722.

4. Karpunina E.K., Pilipchuk N.V., Mirzabalaeva F.I., Alieva P.R., Zubareva N.N. Measuring the activity of the population of Russian regions in the global online labour market. International Journal of Human Resources Development and Management. 2023;23(3):250–267. Алехина О. Ф., Бейлина А. Ф., Труфанова С. А. и др. Исследование особенностей фриланс-деятельности... 205

5. Karpunina E.K., Koryakina T.V., Furman E.N., Alexandrova Z.P., Vaykok M.A. Nonstandard forms of employment in terms of digitalization: Russian Specifics. In: Advances in Research on Russian Business and Management. Cham: Springer; 2023. P. 141–153.

6. Karpunina E.K., Isaeva E.A., Petrov I.V., Korolyuk E.V., Dzhimova S.B. Interregional Differentiation of Income and Expenditure of the Russian Population: Assessment in the Long-Term Dynamics. In: Geo-Economy of the Future: Sustainable Agriculture and Alternative Energy. Vol. 2. Cham: Springer; 2022. P. 583–598.

7. Kazakova V.A. Freelance market as the possible future of labor market. Economics and Business: Theory and Practice. 2018;4:115-117.

8. Kässi O., Lehdonvirta V. Online labour index: Measuring the online gig economy for policy and research. Technological Forecasting and Social Change. 2018;137:241-248.

9. Cherry M.A. Back to the future: a continuity of dialogue on work and technology at the ILO. International Labour Review. 2020;159(1):1-23.

10. Stupnikova O.B., Vanyashina E., Serkova N.V. Freelancing as a new form of staff employment. Journal of Economics and Social Sciences. 2015;6:4-19.

11. Lobel O. We are all gig workers now: online platforms, freelancers & the battles over employment status & rights during the Covid-19 Pandemic. San Diego L. Rev. 2020;57:919.

12. Howcroft D., Bergvall-Kåreborn B. A typology of crowdwork platforms. Work, Employment and Society. 2019;33(1):21-38.

13. De Stefano V. The rise of the just-in-time workforce: on-demand work, crowdwork, and labor protection in the gig-economy. Comp. Lab. L. & Pol'y J. 2015;37:471.

14. Karpunina E.K., Okunkova E.A., Molchan A.S., Belova E.O., Kuznetsova O.A. Management of personnel professional development as a condition of digital transformation of the organization. International Journal of Learning and Change. 2023;15(4):365-387.

15. Polujanova N.V., Yashin S.N., Sazanova E.V., Ponomarev S.V., Konovalova M.E., Galieva G.F. Assessment of changes in the online labour market in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic: comparison of the dynamics of rural and urban participation. International Journal of Work Innovation. 2023;3(4)367–381.

16. Okunkova E.A., Kosorukova I.V., Lazareva T.G., Korolyuk E.V., Bogomolova A.V. Global GIG economy: prospects and key growth threats for developing countries. International Journal of Work Innovation. 2023;3(4):403-417.

17. Korolyuk E.V., Pilipchuk N.V., Plyasova S.V., Shevtsov N.A. Transformation of the labor market in conditions of uncertainty: new forms, factors and prospects. Vestnik Omskogo universiteta. Seriya: Ekonomika = Bulletin of Omsk University. Series: Economics. 2023;21(4):15-25 (In Russ.).

18. Vishnevskaya N.T. Self-employment in transitional economies. Mirovaya ekonomika i mezhdunarodnye otnosheniya = World Economy and International Relations. 2013;(10):58–67. (In Russ.)

19. Pink D. A Nation of free agents. Moscow: Sekret firmy; 2005. 327 p. (In Russ.).

20. Strebkov D.O., Shevchuk A.V., Spirina M.O. Development of the Russian-speaking remote work market, 2009-2014 (based on the results of freelancers' registration). Moscow: Izdatel'skii dom Vysshei shkoly ekonomiki; 2015. 225 p. (In Russ.).

21. The Online Labour Index 2020. Online Labour Demand. Available at: http://online-labourobservatory.org/oli-demand/ (accessed 12.03.2024).

22. The Online Labour Index 2020. Online Labour Supply. Available at: http://online-labourobservatory.org/oli-supply/ (accessed 12.03.2024)

23. Human development report – Education Index. 2020. Available at: http://hdr.undp.org/en/indicators/103706 (accessed 12.03.2024)

24. Labor market that works: connecting talent with opportunity in the digital age. Available at: https://www.mckinsey.com/~/media/mckinsey/featured%20insights/ (accessed 12.03.2024).