The US is unique in relying on employers to deliver large chunks of social insurance that modern democracies typically provide. This makes employment uniquely central to economic security for workers while making employees more costly to businesses. Employers have spent much of the 21st century redefining the relationship between their workers and employment to lower these costs. The result is that many workers are doing the same jobs as their parents–from janitors to nurses–but as contractors or freelancers, without the stability and benefits previous generations could count on.
For our October book talk the Roosevelt Institute is excited to welcome professor Paul Osterman to talk about his new book Disposable Workers. A research study on the transformation of employment complemented with an original survey of 6,000 workers, this book gives a detailed picture of economic security for working class Americans today. It also makes clear that this is a policy choice and offers concrete solutions to restore employment and increase economic security for working Americans.