Navigating the Nexus: A Systematic Review of Entrepreneurial Career Pathways and Outcomes in the Gig Economy

This study aims to explore the existing literature at the intersection of the gig economy and entrepreneurship, with a particular focus on how gig work influences the development of entrepreneurial behavior and entrepreneurial career potential. It seeks to identify conceptual and empirical gaps, and proposes a structured agenda for future research in this emerging field. A systematic literature review was conducted, analyzing 26 peer-reviewed journal articles. The methodology combined citation analysis to map the most scholarly influencing articles with thematic analysis to identify key patterns, resulting in the emergence of three conceptual clusters and seven overarching themes. The review reveals that while a number of studies suggest a relationship between gig work and entrepreneurial skill development or behavior, the literature remains in an embryonic stage and lacks theoretical coherence. Few studies provide robust explanations of how or why gig workers transition into entrepreneurial careers. The study identifies critical gaps in theory development, methodological diversity, and context-specific insights. The review is limited to published academic articles in English, which may exclude other relevant contributions. The informed findings and relevant themes of the study may become outdated quickly. This study provides one of the first systematic reviews focused specifically on the entrepreneurial outcomes of gig economy participation.