Dimensions of Platform-based Work in Austria and Europe. Implications for Social Security

Through the use of digital technologies, both new qualification requirements for the working population and new forms of work and income are developing and spreading. The study analyses the latest labour market developments with regard to the digitisation-related new forms of work (platform work) and the resulting changes in social security. In the recent past, occupations involving manual work have therefore lost importance. At the same time, the number of solo self-employed people is rising faster than the number of employed people. Social security contributions are around 8 percent lower for solo employees than for employees. Neither are there any contributions to the family equalisation fund, no municipal levy, etc. In the income-centred Austrian social security system, this results in a lower level of individual security as well as a dampening of the overall financing basis. The platform work shows the challenges for the national social security system, which should lead to an EU-wide uniform regulation and registration of platform work.