Will the platform economy provide an outlet for buying, selling and sharing goods and services, but remain a niche form of employment? Or is it a precursor to a wider trend? This is a difficult question to answer, but in response to the Coronavirus crisis it appears that interest in the platform economy is increasing from a labour market perspective. The European Commission acknowledges that the digital platform economy is large and growing quickly. According to their European figures, today over 28 million people in the EU work through digital labour platforms. In 2025, their number is expected to reach 43 million people.

 

Furthermore, it can provide a way for immigrants, seniors and young people to enter the workforce. At the same time, trust and perception issues - combined with traditionally high consumer and worker protection in Europe - mean that challenges exist.

 

One trend that we can highlight is that the platform economy is here to stay. This movement is fueled by a drive for efficiency and increased flexibility from employers and employees alike. Furthermore, what constitutes the platform economy today will not necessarily hold true for tomorrow. The whole sector is in a state of continuous transition.