Acta Sociologica, Ahead of Print.
Working conditions on digital platforms are generally found to be precarious. This article explores why drivers working for taxi platforms in Oslo, Norway nonetheless take the “gig.” It draws on an extensive fieldwork in the industry and shows that the drivers see driving as not only one of very few available opportunities in the Norwegian labor market, but also as a step up. The drivers highlight the comfortable work environment, absence of direct supervision, formal flexibility, and potentially high earnings as factors making driving appear as a better job. Still, they are frustrated by the long hours they have to work to make a living, giving rise to an ambivalence toward the platforms. Contextualizing the drivers’ perception of the platforms in terms of their previous labor market experiences, the article argues that taking the “gig” can be seen as a response to and a strategy for navigating the Norwegian labor market aimed at changing their situation for the better, expressing their agency through—not against—the taxi platforms.