The Contingent Effect of Platform Dependency on the Job Crafting-Work Engagement Link: A Moderated Mediation Model in the Gig Economy

The fast-growing gig economy has increased work flexibility but has also raised concerns about sustaining work engagement among gig workers. Digital labor platforms increasingly manage workers through algorithmic control and performance systems, which may limit worker agency and psychological ownership. Although job crafting is often viewed as a useful proactive behavior, little is known about the conditions under which it is most effective. This study addresses this gap by examining whether platform dependency shapes the relationship between job crafting and work engagement. Using survey data from 400 gig workers working on online labor platforms, we tested a moderated mediation model using structural equation modeling. Results show that job crafting promotes work engagement through a psychological mechanism, but this positive effect weakens when workers are highly dependent on a single platform. These findings extend the job demands resources theory to the gig economy and offer guidance for platform design.