Perceptions of vulnerability and precariousness of Airbnb workers in Portugal

Abstract

Platform work in the tourism sector has grown exponentially since 2014. Airbnb was a driving force for the Portuguese economy after the 2008 crisis. During the COVID-19 pandemic, tourism was cancelled, and most workers did not have access to social benefits, causing a potential disruption in their careers. There is a gap in research regarding the analysis of the occupational trajectories of Airbnb workers and the effects of the 2008 crisis and the pandemic on their lives. Between 2020 and 2021, in-depth interviews were conducted with Airbnb workers and activists in order to analyse their occupational trajectories, collective voice and business models. The article concludes that, while Airbnb changed the tourism landscape, those who work for it remain precarious.