Gig Work and Student Life in Bangladesh: Navigating Academic Challenges, Personal Well-Being, and Career Aspirations

This study reveals the multi-dimensional impact of gig work on students in Bangladesh. It highlighted demographic trends, academic challenges and benefits, personal life implications, and career development opportunities. This study followed both quantitative survey data and qualitative interviews (IDI). Demographically gig work in the sample is male-dominated (67%). The majority of participants (61.7%) work fewer than 6 hours daily at night time. Most of the respondents (54.5%) work with international platforms. Academically freelancing offers students’ financial independence, skill development, and flexibility, though challenges like disrupted schedules and difficulty balancing work with studies were noted. Qualitatively female students highlighted that they overcome societal barriers and gain financial autonomy. Personal impacts are two sides: while gig work fosters independence, at the same time it also leads to stress, health issues, and reduced social engagement due to irregular working hours. Career-wise students see freelancing as an avenue for skill enhancement, global networking and future aspirations. ANOVA results show that while academic challenges such as stress and study interruptions are broadly shared, significant group differences exist in students’ ability to balance education with gig work, perceptions of independence, social recognition, and career benefits such as employability and networking. It also creates future entrepreneurial motivations and provides a competitive benefit in the job market. The findings underscore the importance of supporting student freelancers through effective time management strategies, mental health resources, and inclusive policies to mitigate challenges and amplify the benefits of gig work.