The Manifestation of Gig Economy and Workforce Dynamics in Nigeria: Implications for Human Capital Development in the 21ST Century.

Abstract

The rapid growth of the gig economy has transformed employment relations and workforce dynamics, with important implications for human capital development in Nigeria. The paper examines the manifestations of the gig economy and their implications for workforce dynamics and human capital development. Anchored on the Marxist Political Economy Theory and Human Capital Theory, the study utilized secondary data obtained from peer-reviewed journal articles, books, government publications, policy documents, and reports of International Organizations. The findings reveal that the gig economy has expanded employment opportunities, increased labour market participation, and enhanced digital and entrepreneurial skills, particularly among young people. However, these gains are undermined by precarious employment, limited access to formal training, weak social protection, and the increasing transfer of responsibility for skills development from employers to individual workers. The study concludes that the contribution of the gig economy to human capital depends largely on the institutional and regulatory environment governing platform work. It recommends strengthened labour regulations, expanded social protection, providing conflict resolving mechanism between gig workers and digital platform operators and sustained investment in digital and vocational skills development to ensure the growth of the gig economy contributes to sustainable human capital development and inclusive economic growth in Nigeria.
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