Journal DOI: 10.36713/epra1013|SJIF Impact Factor (2023): 8.048 ISSN: 2347-4378 EPRA International Journal of Economics, Business and Management Studies (EBMS) Volume: 10 | Issue: 8|August 2023 -Peer-Reviewed Journal 2023 EPRA EBMS | https://eprajournals.com/ Journal DOI URL: https://doi.org/10.36713/epra1013 78 JOB SATISFACTION, JOB SECURITY, AND CAREER ADVANCEMENT IN THE GIG ECONOMY (A STUDY OF UBER DRIVERS IN LAGOS, NIGERIA) Iyobhebhe Itohan 1 , Okundalaiye Henry 2 , Abiodun Olumuyiwa 3 1 University of Lagos, Nigeria. 2 University Of Lagos, Nigeria. 3 Birmingham City University, UK. Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.36713/epra14116 DOI No: 10.36713/epra14116 ABSTRACT This article examines job satisfaction, job security, and career advancement experienced by individuals working as Uber drivers within the gig economy. This study employed a structured questionnaire to collect responses from 200 Uber drivers in Lagos. The collected data were analyzed with SPSS, concentrating on simple regression analysis. According to the study's findings, the gig economy provides job satisfaction, which can be attributed primarily to flexibility, autonomy, and diversified work opportunities. However, no correlation was found between job security and career advancement in the gig economy, as evidenced by inadequate compensation, unpredictable work hours, excessive responsibilities, insufficient rest, and significant exhaustion. In light of the myriad findings obtained in this investigation, our research ascertained that the utilization of digital platforms is imperative for the operational efficacy of the gig economy. KEYWORDS: Job satisfaction, Job security, Career advancement, Gig economy. 1. INTRODUCTION The "gig economy," also called the "sharing economy," refers to a system in which a significant portion of labor is obtained through digital platforms (Fumagalli et al., 2018). In this system, employees engage in various jobs with varying durations and are compensated for their efforts, albeit without the protections and benefits of traditional permanent employment. According to Pazim et al. (2023), examples of "gig employees" include self-employed individuals, independent contractors, and individuals engaged in impermanent employment through agencies (Buck, 2020). The proliferation of cell phones and the Internet has facilitated the emergence of employment arrangements characterized by short-term contracts and independent work. This has resulted in the emergence of the so-called "gig economy," which represents a novel approach to connecting employees with clients (Agrawal & Bhukya, 2022). In Nigeria, gig platforms, such as Uber, In-Driver, Guovo, and Bolt, have significantly expanded employment opportunities and income generation. Consequently, many individuals are leaving the traditional employment structures characterized by fixed schedules and long-term commitments to gig work structures (Gussek & Wiesche, 2022). Schreck (2022) argues that gig employees accept short-term engagements because it increases job autonomy. Therefore, using digital labor platforms by workers for scheduling and job searching exemplifies technology's function as an intermediary in the gig economy (Mousa et al., 2022). Workers utilize online resources such as websites and applications to obtain and maintain freelance employment, while others prefer to establish professional connections through personal referrals. The "gig economy" enables workers to determine their work schedules by dividing labor into smaller tasks that can be assigned to individuals or groups based on their preferences (Singh et al., 2022; Erik, 2022). However, the increasing prevalence of temporary employment has led to a decline in permanent employment