<p>This study develops and validates a psychometric instrument to measure higher education students’ anticipatory preferences for gig work as a potential career pathway. Gig work, characterised by short-term, flexible, and digitally mediated tasks, represents a major labour market shift yet remains underexamined at the pre-entry stage. Existing research has largely focused on the experiences of incumbent workers in terms of precarity and platform control, leaving the orientations of students preparing to enter a changing employment landscape underexplored. Addressing this gap, the study constructs a theory-driven scale that integrates behavioural intention, psychological disposition, and labour market perceptions. Following established frameworks for scale development, the process included expert validation, pilot testing (N = 76), and large-scale survey administration (N = 714) across five Indian universities. The resulting seven-factor model demonstrated strong reliability and validity through exploratory and confirmatory analyses. Methodologically, the scale offers a transferable indicator for capturing latent orientations toward non-traditional employment. Substantively, it contributes to research on the employment–education gap by (a) advancing measurement of anticipatory work preferences, (b) enabling higher education institutions to assess preparedness for future work transitions, and (c) informing policymakers and educators seeking alignment between student aspirations and digital labour markets.</p>