Navigating Change: Exploring Gig and Taxi Drivers’ Perceptions of Autonomous Vehicles and Their Influence on Continuance Intentions

This exploratory sequential mixed-methods paper explores the relationship between gig and taxi drivers’ perceptions of autonomous vehicles (AVs) and their continuance intentions. Drawing from the Career Construction Model of Adaptation, we examined the relationship between drivers’ expectations about AV-related job changes and their intentions to stay or leave their driving role upon the integration of AVs. In Study 1, we collected qualitative data from gig and taxi drivers ( N = 69) in 24 focus groups. In Study 2, we administered a survey to gig and taxi drivers ( N = 496). The thematic analysis in Study 1 revealed how drivers expected the onset of AVs to positively and negatively impact their job (changes to work stress, safety, job enjoyment, etc.). These expectations influenced their decisions to remain in or leave their jobs. Multivariate regression in Study 2 showed that multiple factors identified in Study 1 were related to continuance intentions, with some being “retention factors” (related to intentions to stay) and others being “turnover factors” (related to intentions to leave). Our findings contribute to the evolving discourse on the impact of new technologies on continuance intentions by offering theoretical and practical implications in careers and vocational behavior.