Platforms Don’t Care – Qualified and Experienced Women Do: A Case Study on Self-Employment and On-Demand Platforms in Eldercare

Abstract

The proliferation of digital labour platforms ranges from ride-hailing and delivery services to care work. Eldercare platforms emerged as a prominent focus of critique regarding platformization, commodification, and the nature of care itself. However, empirical studies thus far have largely focused on domestic work and childcare, leaving a significant gap in the examination of eldercare platforms. This paper addresses this underexplored area by presenting empirical findings derived from a mixed-methods analysis involving 2144 eldercare workers’ profiles and 14 in-depth interviews. Through cluster analysis, the research identifies the distinct groups that comprise the workforce on on-demand eldercare platforms. In doing so, the study challenges prevailing narratives around platform labour, emphasizing that they are not universally applicable. The findings reveal that platforms tailored for cleaning, domestic care and eldercare each engage uniquely composed workforces, highlighting the significant stratification within care work and its implications for platformization. Ultimately, the research presents three key insights: first, that care platforms function as niche markets; second, that workers in these on-demand platforms possess substantial practical experience and qualifications in caregiving; and third, that, contrary to trends in other sectors of platformized care, migrant workers are not disproportionately represented on eldercare platforms in Germany.