U.S. firms increasingly rely on a growing class of disposable workers

A recent analysis reveals that over 57 million U.S. workers are classified as disposable, meaning their employers provide no long-term career path or job security. The author identifies three segments: contractors employed by staffing firms (13 % of workers), organizational freelancers like rideshare and delivery drivers (5 %), and marginal employees such as adjunct professors and part-time staff (17 %). These workers typically earn lower wages, with part-timers paid about 20 % less than comparable full-timers, and they express less satisfaction with their jobs.

The rise in part-time hiring accelerated after the Affordable Care Act required firms with 50+ employees to offer health coverage to those working 30 hours or more, prompting many to keep staff below that threshold. Employers cite cost savings and flexibility as motivations, while studies associate disposable labor with higher rates of hospital infections and workplace accidents. The author’s forthcoming book examines the drivers, consequences, and possible remedies for this employment trend.