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US labor market sees rise of "disposable jobs" impacting 57 million workers

A labor economist has identified a growing trend of "disposable jobs" in the U.S. economy, affecting nearly 57 million workers, or over one-third of the workforce. These roles, characterized by a lack of job security and career prospects, fall into three categories: contractors employed by staffing firms, freelancers like ride-share drivers, and marginal workers in seemingly standard positions with high turnover. The economist's research highlights the significant societal and individual consequences of this employment transformation. AI

RANK_REASON The item is an analysis by a labor economist about employment trends, not a direct announcement or event.

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US labor market sees rise of "disposable jobs" impacting 57 million workers

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COVERAGE [1]

  1. Fortune TIER_1 English(EN) · Paul Osterman, The Conversation ·

    Even potato-chip tasters are temporary in the economy of 2026 — there’s nearly 57 million of these ‘disposable workers’

    MIT labor economist Paul Osterman tracks them in his new book, “Disposable Workers: The Transformation of Employment."