Summary
- App workers have, on average, 5.5 hours more work per week than non-platform workers, according to IBGE.
- The data was released this Friday (10/17) and also reveals that Brazil has 1.7 million application workers, an increase of 25.4%.
- Only 35.9% contribute to social security, and 71.1% work informally, with autonomy limited by the platforms.
App workers have longer weekly hours than non-platformed professionals in Brazil, with an income per hour worked up to 8.3% lower. The data was released this Friday (17/10) by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) and takes into account the year 2024.
The research also reveals that the number of workers in this modality grew in the country: from 1.3 million to 1.7 million in the last year, an increase of 25.4% in just two years. There are more than 335 thousand new workers on digital platforms.
In comparative terms, the number of so-called “platformed” people already exceeds the population of capitals such as Recife (1.6 million) and Porto Alegre (1.4 million), and represents 1.9% of the total 88.5 million people employed in the private sector.
The amount takes into account private passenger transport (except taxis), delivery of products and provision of general services via app. The majority, 878 thousand, worked in passenger transport in 2024 — an increase of 29.2% in this category alone.
Working hours are longer
The average monthly income of app workers was R$2,996, 4.2% higher than the R$2,875 received, on average, by non-platformed professionals. According to IBGE analyst Gustavo Geaquinto, slightly higher incomes and the proposal to make working hours more flexible encourage adherence to this work model.
However, to reach these values, the weekly working hours of application workers were 44.8 hours — 5.5 hours more than the 39.3 hours per week worked by others. In practice, this difference in working hours results in a lower income per hour worked: the average was R$15.40 per hour, compared to the R$16.80 per hour received by non-platformed workers.
It is worth noting that the survey only considers individuals whose main work is mediated by digital platforms, excluding those who use applications as a source of supplementary income. According to IBGE, the majority of platform workers are men (83.9%) and have completed secondary education or incomplete higher education (59.3%).
Platforms control “flexibility”
The IBGE study also sheds light on the vulnerability and working conditions of application workers. Only 35.9% of them contributed to social security in 2024, a proportion much lower than the 61.9% observed among those without platforms. Informality is also significant, reaching 71.1% of the group.
The research also analyzed the level of control of the platforms and highlighted limited autonomy among workers. According to the study, 91.2% of drivers stated that the price of rides is defined by the app. Furthermore, 76.7% said that the platforms choose the customers to be served, and 70.4% of delivery people reported that the delivery time is also imposed by the apps.
Flexibility, cited as an advantage, is influenced by the platforms themselves. More than 55% of drivers and delivery people reported that their working hours are affected by incentives, bonuses or promotions. Furthermore, more than 30% of these workers reported the influence of threats of punishment or blocking.
The study is part of the Continuous National Household Sample Survey (Pnad Contínua) and was carried out in partnership with the State University of Campinas (Unicamp) and the Public Ministry of Labor (MPT). The results are detailed on the IBGE website.
Source: https://tecnoblog.net/noticias/trabalhadores-de-apps-tem-jornadas-mais-longas-e-recebem-menos-aponta-ibge/
