03/20/2024
By John Bukenya

The Global Studies Program invites you to attend a doctoral dissertation defense by John Bukenya on “Immigrant Workers in the Gig Economy: Challenges and Opportunities for African Immigrants in Greater Boston”.

Candidate: John Bukenya
Degree: Ph.D. in Global Studies
Defense Date: Tuesday, April 2, 2024
Time: 1-3 p.m.
Location: Dugan Hall Room 204

Thesis/Dissertation Title: “Immigrant Workers in the Gig Economy: Challenges and Opportunities for African Immigrants in Greater Boston.”

Dissertation Committee:

  • Dissertation Chair: Nicholas G. Evans, Ph.D., MSME, Associate Professor, Chair of the Philosophy Department, University of Massachusetts Lowell
  • MinJeong Kim, Ph.D., Associate Professor School of Education, Affiliated Faculty, Global Studies Ph.D. Program, University of Massachusetts Lowell
  • Cheryl Llewellyn, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Chair of Sociology Department, University of Massachusetts Lowell

Abstract

The research aims to explore the transformative effects of digital labor platforms, particularly in rideshare and delivery services, on the experiences of immigrant workers who have historically been engaged in traditional low-wage jobs. These experiences are explored using five structural categories found to be crucial in shaping the working experiences of immigrants, including employment quality, race, earnings, healthcare, and gender/family factors. Through these categories, the research examines the structural challenges and opportunities immigrant workers encounter on platforms and how they use their agency to navigate the opportunities and obstacles presented in transferring low-wage employment from traditional settings to online platforms. The study was based on 30 semi-structured interviews with Sub-Saharan African immigrant platform workers in Greater Boston and reviewed five major platforms including Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, Grubhub, and Amazon Flex. The study shows that despite the constraints imposed by the platforms, workers exhibit significant agency in navigating these challenges, highlighting notable benefits of digital labor for immigrants, such as flexibility, potential for higher earnings, and increased work autonomy. This agency, however, is exercised within the limitations of existing structures, indicating that while individual actions can mitigate some of the challenges, systemic changes are required to address the working conditions and rights of immigrant workers in digital labor. Findings could provide some insights into the ongoing societal discussions on the impact of the rapidly evolving technology and the future of work.