GoKawiilStudy: 35% of U.S. workforce now classified as 'disposable' workers
A new book by Paul Osterman, titled Disposable Workers: The Transformation of Employment, finds that roughly 35% of the American workforce falls into precarious, insecure employment arrangements. Osterman outlines five key insights explaining how this shift has reshaped the nature of work and job security in the country.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
This scale of insecure employment suggests structural changes in how companies manage labor, shifting risk from employers onto workers. It raises questions about long-term economic stability, worker protections, and policy responses needed to address wage volatility and lack of benefits for over a third of the workforce.
- Roughly 35% of U.S. workers are now considered 'disposable' in employment terms.
- The trend reflects a broader transformation in how American companies structure labor.
- Osterman's book offers five insights into the causes and consequences of this shift.
Disposable Workers by Paul Osterman — This is the book behind the article into how a third of the American workforce ended up in contingent, temp, and gig arrangements. Osterman lays out the research and the human consequences in one place, so you get the full argument rather than five highlights.
See Disposable Workers by Paul Osterman on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: fastcompany.com, 2026-09-05
Published there as: “America’s disposable workforce is growing. It comes with hidden costs”
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