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1Research Scholar, Vellore Institute of Technology Business School , Chennai, Tamil Nadu , India
Professor, Vellore Institute of Technology Business school , Chennai, Tamil Nadu , India
Purpose: The growth in platform-based jobs has created a need to have competencies that go beyond traditional digital capabilities. The conceptualization of Gig Literacy 2.0 in this work is an adaptation of the DigComp 2.0 framework to the changing, platform-specific skills that freelancers and gig workers need to have in order to function in the algorithm-mediated labor markets. Methodology: The study's identification of Gig Literacy practices was based on a comprehensive literature review regarding digital competence, platform work, and freelancer skills. This informed the contextual adaptation of DigComp competencies for gig work. According to these results, a more specific Gig Literacy tool was created and distributed to freelancers and gig workers across various digital platforms (N = 257). Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), construct validity, and reliability were assessed. Findings: The measurement model established high standards of fit (CMIN/DF = 1.43; GFI = 0.947; CFI = 0.985; TLI = 0.980; RMSEA = 0.041). Construct convergent validity was verified by Composite Reliability, which ranged between 0.87 and 0.91, and Average Variance Extracted (AVE), when all constructs showed an average value of over 0.69. The structural results indicated that demographic variables played a significant role in Gig Literacy practices (p < .05), especially in terms of the type of work and level of the intensity of skills. Conclusion: The results confirm that platform work necessitates multidimensional competencies beyond conventional digital literacy. The professionalized and competitive conditions of the freelancer environment demand highly developed strategic and evaluative platform skills that would help a freelancer to increase the rating of clients, win projects, and ensure a stable income. The research goes further to elaborate on digital competence theory by developing a proven Gig Literacy framework to fit the platform economy.
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