A Systematic review of digital marketplaces and certified digital profiles for blue-collar labour in the building services sector

Abstract

The study presents a systematic review of digital marketplaces and certified digital profiles for blue-collar labour in the building services sector, spanning literature from 1995 to 2025. The review synthesises 89 peer-reviewed articles to examine how digital platforms facilitate labour matching, skill verification, and trust-building. The findings indicate that digital marketplaces improve efficiency, transparency, and worker visibility, particularly in informal employment contexts where information asymmetry limits labour mobility and professional growth. Certified digital profiles, including blockchain-based credentials, smart cards, and verified institutional records, enhance employer confidence by providing portable and authenticated evidence of skills and experience. These mechanisms reduce hiring risks and strengthen market signaling. The review further identifies key determinants influencing platform adoption, including usability, accessibility, mobile-first design, social acceptance, and regulatory compliance. The content analysis further reveals thematic clusters: digital marketplace dynamics, skills development, certification systems, sector-specific workforce digitization, and digital governance. While core functions such as credential verification and job matching are widely implemented, advanced functions, including skills tracking, culturally adaptive interfaces, and worker empowerment tools, remain unevenly developed. Overall, the study highlights the transformative potential of integrated digital profiles to bridge gaps between skilled workers and employers, contributing to workforce formalisation and improved labour market efficiency in the building services sector.