Navigating Digital Labor Platforms for a Living: A Revelatory Case Study on Persons With Disabilities in a Lower‐Middle‐Income Country

ABSTRACT

While previous studies have highlighted how digital labor platforms (DLPs) create employment opportunities, the experiences of persons with physical disabilities (PWDs) remain underexplored in the literature, despite evidence that some individuals within this group rely on DLPs for their livelihoods. This revelatory case study explores the experiences of two physically disabled individuals in Ghana who work on location‐based gig platforms, examining their perceptions of the livelihood opportunities these platforms provide. Data was collected through semi‐structured interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings suggest that participants perceived the physical gig economy, characterized by relatively low entry barriers and an inclusive working environment, as providing opportunities to secure employment and earn a livelihood. Participants also reported that their experiences of using DLPs offered job‐related feedback, motivation through additional income, and opportunities for social interaction. Although participants described these platforms as helping them navigate certain vulnerabilities associated with disability and unemployment, they also acknowledged the emergence of new vulnerabilities within platform‐based work. Furthermore, participants associated their involvement in DLPs and their ability to earn an income with improved self‐image and a greater sense of independence, particularly in reducing their reliance on begging as a means of livelihood. Participants also reported a reduced inclination towards self‐harm in connection with improved access to livelihood opportunities through DLPs. These accounts highlight participants' perceptions of the role of digital labor platforms in supporting their economic participation, social engagement, and personal fulfillment. However, the study is limited by its small, context‐specific sample of persons with physical disabilities working in Ghana's gig economy. Future research should include larger and more diverse samples across different geographical regions and disability categories to explore the transferability of these findings and provide a broader understanding of the experiences of PWDs engaged in platform‐based work.