The number of workers on the online platform is constantly increasing, both in Serbia and in the countries of the region. In relation to other neighboring countries, Serbia is the one that leads the way. This is shown by the results of the measurement of “Gigmeter”, an instrument developed by the Center for Public Policy Research, thanks to which tools it is possible to depict the characteristics of the online workforce and measure the platform economy in Serbia and several other neighboring countries.
After Serbia, the total number of platform workers is followed by Romania, followed by North Macedonia, Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary, and finally Croatia and Montenegro. However, a somewhat more indicative indicator, as explained by Ljubivoje Radonjić, from the center, can be the population of gig workers per 100,000 inhabitants in all countries.
We already see a different distribution here, and in that context, North Macedonia has the largest number of freelancers per 100,000 inhabitants, followed by Serbia, Albania and Montenegro. As for the structure of the workforce by profession, the largest part of gig workers is in the field of creative services and multimedia – said Radonjić.
When looking at the gender structure of platform work, there is a dominant share of men in all countries of the region, including in Serbia.
BiH has the largest share of men in the gig-population of the workforce, while it is interesting that Albania is still the best when it comes to the share of women in the gig-population. In Serbia, there are six to seven men for every ten workers on the platform, compared to women – he reminded.
Men are therefore in a position to obtain higher labor prices for their services on the platform, so in that context they have higher incomes. The latest measurement shows that the share of women in the total income is only 25.6 percent. Such a trend is present both here and in the region – Radonjić added.
When looking at professions, the biggest disparity between men and women in Serbia is in the field of software and technology development. Because men are many times more represented, with 86.8 percent. On the other hand, women are paid better in two types of professions – the fields of creative services and multimedia, as well as in administrative services and data entry.
