A new book by Paul Osterman, a professor emeritus at MIT Sloan School of Management, challenges the notion that Gen Z is voluntarily opting out of traditional careers. Osterman's research, based on a survey of over 6,000 U.S. adults and interviews, indicates that approximately 35% of the American workforce, or over 55 million people, are in "disposable" work arrangements. These include freelancers, contractors, gig workers, and "marginal workers" who are W-2 employees but not treated as integral to the organization and are expected to have high turnover. Osterman argues that the desire for a real job and a career remains stable among younger generations, and the perceived trend of career minimalism is not accurately reflected in their attitudes. AI
IMPACT This analysis of labor market trends and worker attitudes provides context for how AI might impact job quality and the future of work.
RANK_REASON The item discusses findings from a book and survey about labor market trends and generational attitudes towards work, rather than a specific event.
- Daniel Zhao
- Disposable Workers: The Transformation of Employment
- Gen Z
- Glassdoor
- MIT Sloan School of Management
- Paul Osterman
- U.S.
AI-generated summary · Google Gemini · from 1 sources. How we write summaries →
