Concierges, Adjunct Professors, Potato Chip Tasters: US Employers Are Relying More and More on ‘Disposable’ Workers
Employers are using contractors and part-timers to avoid benefit costs, and researchers say more than 57 million U.S. workers are treated as disposable.
- MIT emeritus professor Paul Osterman estimates 35% of U.S. workers are treated as disposable, affecting nearly 57 million people out of a 162 million workforce, according to his new book, 'Disposable Workers: The Transformation of Employment.'
- Employers maximize part-time and contract staffing to avoid mandatory benefits like Social Security and health insurance; the Affordable Care Act imposes a US$3,340 penalty per uninsured employee working 30-plus hours.
- Osterman's survey identifies three categories: contractors at 13% of the workforce, organizational freelancers at 5%, and marginal workers at 17%, while McKinsey's 2023 report asserted 5% of employees deliver 95% of organizational value.
- Artificial intelligence exacerbates workforce uncertainty; earlier this year, Deloitte cut parent leave and family building stipends for administrative and IT support staff, roles Osterman suggests are vulnerable to automation.
- Osterman advises workers to acquire valuable skills and build external networks to maintain security in an uncertain labor market. He emphasizes that continuous professional connections outside one's current company provide resilience against organizational changes.
14 Articles
14 Articles
U.S. employers are relying more and more on ‘disposable’ workers. Here’s why
When I leave my Boston condo every day, I say good morning to the concierge, who works for a contracting company providing staff to residential buildings. When I conduct an interview in a nearby building, the people who clean that office at night are contractors. The person who serves me my lunch sandwich is a part-timer with no career prospects in that job. When my best intentions to eat well are for naught and I gorge on Doritos, I remember th…
How US Employers Are Relying More and More on "Disposable Workers"
Republished with permission from The Conversation, by Paul Osterman, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) When I leave my Boston condo every day, I say good morning to the concierge, who works for a contracting company providing staff to residential buildings. When I conduct an interview in a nearby building, the people who clean that office at night are contractors. The person who serves me my lunch sandwich is a part-timer with no caree…
US employers are increasingly relying on ‘disposable’ workers - and the public pays a price
The use of part-timers increased by 500,000 in the years after the Affordable Care Act was implemented Source link : https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/disposable-workers-us-employers-contractors-freelancers-b3031383.html Author : Paul Osterman Publish date : 2026-08-11 20:19:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
The Conversation
Concierges, adjunct professors, potato chip tasters: US employers are relying more and more on ‘disposable’ workers
There's no way to climb a ladder without rungs. John Lund/Photodisc via Getty ImagesWhen I leave my Boston condo every day, I say good morning to the concierge, who works for a contracting company providing staff to residential buildings. When I conduct an interview in a nearby building, the people who clean that office at night are contractors. The person who serves me my lunch sandwich is a part-timer with no career prospects in that job. When…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 55% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
