Gig work is not new, but the rise of high-profile tech platforms such as Lyft, TaskRabbit, Handy, Care.com, Airbnb, and of course Uber have put a spotlight on independent work and raised new questions about the organization of work. In what ways is independent work working for people? In what ways can it pose problems? How can we build systems in which gig work is good work?
Answers are complicated because gig workers come in all types: full-time drivers, college students delivering food after classes, parents picking up shifts around their kids’ schedules, teachers looking to earn supplemental income, and more. The personal and economic needs of gig workers can be as varied as the platforms they use.
As a society that encourages work, we need to also consider what the rewards for hard work should be. We know that working people need access to benefits such as health insurance and paid sick days, but who should provide them? What kind of flexibility do workers need and how well does that match with business needs for flexible access to workers? Can gig jobs support both thriving businesses and thriving workers and families?
This event explores the issues and opportunities facing gig workers and offers ideas for building supports to make gig work good work.
This event features Lindsey Cameron (PhD Candidate, Ross School of Business, University of Michigan), Joshua Karam (Co-Founder and CEO, Hyr), Libby Reder (Senior Fellow, Future of Work Initiative, The Aspen Institute), and moderator Eric Morath (Reporter, Labor Economics and Policy, The Wall Street Journal).
This event is part of the Working in America series, an ongoing discussion series hosted by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program that highlights an array of critical issues affecting low- and moderate-income workers in the United States and ideas for improving and expanding economic opportunities for working people. For more information, visit as.pn/workinginamerica.
The Economic Opportunities Program advances strategies, policies, and ideas to help low- and moderate-income people thrive in a changing economy. We recognize that race, gender, and place intersect with and intensify the challenge of economic inequality and we address these dynamics by advancing an inclusive vision of economic justice. For over 25 years, EOP has focused on expanding individuals’ opportunities to connect to quality work, start businesses, and build economic stability that provides the freedom to pursue opportunity. Learn more at as.pn/eop.