Is the Rise of Contract Workers Killing Upward Mobility?

Post by crispyambulance » Tue, Oct 03, 2017, 4:23 PM UTC

sporkit150 wrote: post #81

I come from a blue collar family and was one of the first to take a white collar job in 2007. I planned on making a long term commitment to my first employer, but spent 6 years fighting tooth and nail for more responsibility and money. Eventually I had enough and tried jumping into contracting (but ended up in consulting). At this point my career and pay went through the roof. I'm making (literally) twice as much mon…

Post by KekDemaga » Tue, Oct 03, 2017, 4:33 PM UTC

sunyataishere wrote: post #103

KGIII wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, those are your metrics. Your goals don't match those of the system. Ill defined terms like big losers don't really help. I don't think anyone would argue the system is perfect. I'd conclude that it's not nearly as bad as you seem to think it is. By being a part of the system, you're already better off than some 40% of the globe, by default.

taking your argument to its logical extreme, the goals of the system are met so long as the median and averages look favorable relative to other countries... an ultra wealthy 1% can offset the relative lack of wealth in the rest of the 99% and the median can still look good - I think this is the point you may have been missing above

Post by jimmydddd » Tue, Oct 03, 2017, 4:45 PM UTC

ElysianEagle wrote: post #116

wvh wrote: post #11

I've done mostly contract work because I liked the freedom when I was younger. Now I notice a lot of people my age have moved on to management or jobs "higher on the ladder" while I stress about the uncertainty of income when contracts end. I assume the lifestyle might suit people who are extraordinarily good networkers, but I feel mostly tired these days. My younger self didn't know about the fatigue the responsibil…

I worked contract for a while in NYC. The pay was great but the contract was abruptly terminated with just a few days notice about a year or so in. I landed on my feet but don't think I'd go contract again because as a single individual things can get pretty stressful, as you mentioned. It seems to work pretty nicely, however, if you have a partner that has a stable, full-time gig while you work contract. The full-ti…

Post by hectorlorenzo » Tue, Oct 03, 2017, 4:55 PM UTC

frgtpsswrdlame wrote: post #75

hectorlorenzo wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Trying to find references for this, I've found a New York Times article(1) that claims that upwards social mobility has not changed in 50 years. The article points to the research site(2), where they say: > Our work shows that children's prospects of earning more than their parents have fallen from 90% to 50% over the past half century. Is the second source referring to absolute mobility? (1) https://www.nytimes.com/…

I think perhaps he overstated the effect but this article will give you a bunch of information on social mobility in the US. http://www.politifact.com/florida/statements/2014/nov/06/jeb...

Post by creaghpatr » Tue, Oct 03, 2017, 5:04 PM UTC

wavefunction wrote: post #92

RationPhantoms wrote: post #83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I feel an odd magnetic sway towards the future envisioned in Neil Stephenson's "Snow Crash" where the gig-economy IS the economy.

What could be more alluring, living in a shipping container in one of the shanty slums most of Snow Crash's people live in or being one of the lucky few to live in a corporate enclave? I'm just glad we're going to have the opportunity to live in a cyber-punk dystopia!!!