Gigged : The End of the Job and the Future of Work

"With deep reporting and graceful storytelling, Sarah Kessler reveals the ground truth of a key part of the American workforce. Her analysis is both astute and nuanced, making GIGGED essential reading for anyone interested in the future of work." —Daniel H. Pink, author of WHEN and DRIVE The full-time job is disappearing—is landing the right gig the new American Dream? One in three American workers is now a freelancer. This "gig economy"—one that provides neither the guarantee of steady hours nor benefits—emerged out of the digital era and has revolutionized the way we do business. High-profile tech start-ups such as Uber and Airbnb are constantly making headlines for the disruption they cause to the industries they overturn. But what are the effects of this disruption, from Wall Street down to Main Street? What challenges do employees and job-seekers face at every level of professional experience? In the tradition of the great business narratives of our time, Gigged offers deeply-sourced, up-close-and-personal accounts of our new economy. From the computer programmer who chooses exactly which hours he works each week, to the Uber driver who starts a union, to the charity worker who believes freelance gigs might just transform a declining rural town, journalist Sarah Kessler follows a wide range of individuals from across the country to provide a nuanced look at how the gig economy is playing out in real-time. Kessler wades through the hype and hyperbole to tackle the big questions: What does the future of work look like? Will the millennial generation do as well as their parents? How can we all find meaningful, well-paid work? The Full-time Job Is Disappearing--is Landing The Right Gig The New American Dream? One In Three American Workers Is Now A Freelancer. This 'gig Economy'--one That Provides Neither The Guarantee Of Steady Hours Nor Benefits--emerged Out Of The Digital Era And Has Revolutionized The Way We Do Business. High-profile Tech Start-ups Such As Uber And Airbnb Are Constantly Making Headlines For The Disruption They Cause To The Industries They Overturn. But What Are The Effects Of This Disruption, From Wall Street To Main Street? What Challenges Do Employees And Job-seekers Face At Every Level Of Professional Experience? In The Tradition Of The Great Business Narratives Of Our Time, Gigged Offers Deeply-sourced, Up-close-and-personal Accounts Of Our New Economy. From The New York Computer Programmer Who Chooses Exactly Which Hours He Works Each Week, To The Kansas City Uber Driver Who Starts A Union, To The Arkansas Charity Worker Who Believes Freelance Gigs Might Just Transform A Declining Rural Town, Journalist Sarah Kessler Follows A Wide Range Of Individuals From Across The Country To Provide A Nuanced Look At How The Gig Economy Is Playing Out In Real-time. Kessler Wades Through The Hype And Hyperbole To Tackle The Big Questions: What Does The Future Of Work Look Like? Will The Millennial Generation Do As Well As Their Parents? How Can We All Find Meaningful, Well-paid Work?--dust Jacket. Part I: The End Of The Job. A Very Old New Idea ; No Shifts. No Boss. No Limits. ; The Best Of Bad Options ; Uber For X -- Part Ii: Sunshine, Rainbows And Unicorns. Like An Atm In Your Pocket ; Uber Freedom -- Part Iii: Fine Print. A Competing Story ; Don't Call Us ; The Good Jobs Strategy -- Part Iv: Backlash. The Medium Is The Movement ; Uber For Politics -- Part V: The Future Of Work. Pivot ; A Very Serious Issue. Sarah Kessler. Includes Bibliographical References (pages [253]-279) And Index.

"With deep reporting and graceful storytelling, Sarah Kessler reveals the ground truth of a key part of the American workforce. Her analysis is both astute and nuanced, making GIGGED essential reading for anyone interested in the future of work." —Daniel H. Pink, author of WHEN and DRIVE

The full-time job is disappearing—is landing the right gig the new American Dream?

One in three American workers is now a freelancer. This “gig economy”—one that provides neither the guarantee of steady hours nor benefits—emerged out of the digital era and has revolutionized the way we do business. High-profile tech start-ups such as Uber and Airbnb are constantly making headlines for the disruption they cause to the industries they overturn. But what are the effects of this disruption, from Wall Street down to Main Street? What challenges do employees and job-seekers face at every level of professional experience?

In the tradition of the great business narratives of our time, Gigged offers deeply-sourced, up-close-and-personal accounts of our new economy. From the computer programmer who chooses exactly which hours he works each week, to the Uber driver who starts a union, to the charity worker who believes freelance gigs might just transform a declining rural town, journalist Sarah Kessler follows a wide range of individuals from across the country to provide a nuanced look at how the gig economy is playing out in real-time.

Kessler wades through the hype and hyperbole to tackle the big questions: What does the future of work look like? Will the millennial generation do as well as their parents? How can we all find meaningful, well-paid work?

"The full-time job is disappearing--is landing the right gig the new American Dream? One in three American workers is now a freelancer. This 'gig economy'--which provides neither the guarantee of steady hours nor benefits--emerged out of the digital era and has revolutionized the way we do business. High-profile tech start-ups such as Uber and Airbnb are constantly making headlines for the disruption they cause to the industries they overturn. But what are the effects of this disruption, from Wall Street to Main Street? What challenges do employees and job-seekers face at every level of professional experience? In the tradition of the great business narratives of our time, Gigged offers deeply-sourced, up-close-and-personal accounts of our new economy. From the New York computer programmer who chooses exactly which hours he works each week, to the Kansas City Uber driver who starts a union, to the Arkansas charity worker who believes freelance gigs might just transform a declining rural town, journalist Sarah Kessler follows a wide range of individuals from across the country to provide a nuanced look at how the gig economy is playing out in real-time. Kessler wades through the hype and hyperbole to tackle the big questions: what does the future of work look like? Will the millennial generation do as well as their parents? How can we all find meaningful, well-paid work?"--Dust jacket. **A millennial business journalist takes a colorful, character-driven dive deep into the gig economy.**More than one in three American workers is now a freelancer, and the gig economy, where workers are hired by the job—without the guarantee of steady hours or benefits—has quickly become an essential and seemingly permanent part of the U.S. labor market. High-profile, deep-pocketed tech startups like Uber and Airbnb are constantly in the news for the disruption they bring to the industries they overturn, but no one has yet zeroed in on the effects of this disruption on the largely millennial workforce carrying it out. In the tradition of the great business narratives of our time, __Gigged__ offers a deeply-sourced, story-driven account of this new economy as it has been experienced by real people working in a range of professions. Weaving together the voices and experiences of influential tech entrepreneurs, top-flight economists, and in... A millennial business journalist takes a colorful, character-driven dive deep into the gig economy. More than one in three American workers is now a freelancer, and the gig economy, where workers are hired by the job—without the guarantee of steady hours or benefits—has quickly become an essential and seemingly permanent part of the U.S. labor market. High-profile, deep-pocketed tech startups like Uber and Airbnb are constantly in the news for the disruption they bring to the industries they overturn, but no one has yet zeroed in on the effects of this disruption on the largely millennial workforce carrying it out. In the tradition of the great business narratives of our time, Gigged offers a deeply-sourced, story-driven account of this new economy as it has been experienced by real people working in a range of professions. Weaving together the voices and experiences of influential tech entrepreneurs, top-flight economists, and in...