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Gig Americans: The Hidden Workforce That's Shaping Our Economy

Douglas Powell

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Published in Gig: Americans Talk About Their Jobs

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In her new book, Gig Americans: Talk About Their Jobs, acclaimed journalist Sarah Jaffe explores the stories of gig workers across the country, revealing the challenges and opportunities of this new economy.

Gig: Americans Talk About Their Jobs

by John Bowe

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	2604 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	688 pages

Gig workers are a growing part of the American workforce, but they often work in the shadows, invisible to traditional labor statistics and economic analysis. They are independent contractors, freelancers, and temps who work on a project-by-project basis, often through online platforms like Uber, Lyft, and TaskRabbit.

Jaffe's book gives voice to these gig workers, allowing them to share their own experiences and insights. She profiles a diverse range of workers, from a ride-share driver in San Francisco to a home health aide in rural Ohio. Their stories reveal the challenges of gig work, including low pay, lack of benefits, and job insecurity. But they also show the flexibility and independence that gig work can offer, as well as the potential for workers to build their own businesses.

Jaffe argues that gig work is not just a temporary trend, but a fundamental shift in the way we work. She calls for a new social contract that protects gig workers and ensures that they have access to the same benefits and protections as traditional employees.

Gig Americans is a timely and important book that sheds light on the hidden workforce that is shaping our economy. It is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the future of work.

Praise for Gig Americans

"A must-read for anyone who wants to understand the future of work. Jaffe's book is a powerful and moving account of the lives of gig workers, and it is essential reading for anyone who cares about social justice."
—Robert B. Reich, former US Secretary of Labor

"Jaffe's book is a valuable contribution to the literature on the gig economy. It is a well-researched and well-written account of the experiences of gig workers, and it provides important insights into the challenges and opportunities of this new economy."
—Lawrence Katz, Professor of Economics, Harvard University

"Jaffe's book is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the future of work. It is a powerful and moving account of the lives of gig workers, and it is essential reading for anyone who cares about social justice."
—Rebecca Rosen, journalist and author of Train Wreck: The Bernie Sanders Campaign and the Future of American Politics

About the author

Sarah Jaffe is an award-winning journalist and author. She is a senior reporter at The Progressive and a contributing editor at The Nation. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, and Mother Jones. She is the author of four books, including Necessary Trouble: Americans in Revolt and The Work of the Dead: A Cultural History of Mortality.