Long Working Hours and Job Satisfaction in Platform Employment: An Empirical Study of On-Demand Delivery Couriers in China

The rise of the platform economy has raised concerns about workers’ conditions and job satisfaction. In this study, we examine the relationship between working hours and job satisfaction using unique data from on-demand delivery couriers. Our analysis shows that long working hours negatively affect job satisfaction, particularly among those with prior full-time employment, limited courier experience, third-party recruitment, and marital status. To address endogeneity concerns, we employ an instrumental variable approach, using monthly precipitation and working hours of peers as instruments, which confirms the robustness of our findings. The mechanism analysis further suggests that the negative effect of long working hours is mediated by factors such as physical health status and career identity. Our study highlights the need for regulatory measures to protect platform economy workers from excessive workloads and to enhance job satisfaction.