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The Price of Unpredictability: Scheduling Demands, Gender and Selection in the Gig Economy

Author

Listed:
  • Jha, Natasha

    (Centre for Advanced Financial Research and Learning)

  • Abel, Martin

    (Bowdoin College)

  • Piraino, Patrizio

    (University of Notre Dame)

Abstract

We study how scheduling demands shape gig-work supply and its composition in an experiment with U.S. gig workers, eliciting reservation wages for contracts varying in advance notice, timing, and duration. No-notice contracts raise reservation wages by 13–14 percent, while outside-hours work with notice carries little penalty. Women require 5–6 percent more than men for outside-hours or no-notice work, and 8–9 percent more when combined. These gaps are largest among workers with heavy household-chore burdens and inflexible schedules. Higher-productivity workers also require larger no-notice premiums. At a given wage, demanding contracts therefore reduce labor supply and select a lower-productivity labor pool.

Suggested Citation

  • Jha, Natasha & Abel, Martin & Piraino, Patrizio, 2026. "The Price of Unpredictability: Scheduling Demands, Gender and Selection in the Gig Economy," IZA Discussion Papers 18976, IZA Network @ LISER.
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp18976
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • J41 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets - - - Labor Contracts
    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments

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