How 35 percent of U.S. employees are left on the margins

MIT Professor Emeritus Paul Osterman says more than fifty-five million Americans — roughly one-third of the U.S. workforce — now work in precarious arrangements with little prospect of career advancement. In his new book, "Disposable Workers: The Transformation of Employment," Osterman breaks down the trend: about one in six workers are "marginal employees" whom their organizations have no intention of keeping; twelve percent work as contractors; five percent are organizational freelancers; and roughly one percent draw work from gig platforms. Firms have deliberately engineered this sprawl to cut labor costs and gain flexibility, Osterman argues, trading employee stability and commitment for a cheaper, more disposable workforce. The trend may intensify as artificial intelligence introduces uncertainty into companies' staffing needs. To reverse it, Osterman says, the issue must become politically urgent, followed by action on multiple fronts: stronger union presence, advocacy for higher minimum wages, and customer pressure on companies to improve working conditions.

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