Live data from Hacker News

Most US jobs created since 2005 are not conventional full-time work

qz.com

61–70 of 127 posts

Re: Most US jobs created since 2005 are not conventional full-time work

#61

You'd think that where workers are easy to fire such as in the US, there would be less incentive to use contractors over employees, than in places with very rigid rules for firing.

Full-time employees have to be provided healthcare and benefits. Contractors do not.

Re: Most US jobs created since 2005 are not conventional full-time work

#62
post #2

> “We find that 94% of net job growth in the past decade was in the alternative work category,” said Krueger. “And over 60% was due to the [the rise] of independent contractors, freelancers and contract company workers.” So, not exactly temp workers, but contract workers who require less overhead and are easy to fire.

That is why the US government itself likes contractors - it allows them to avoid dealing with the Civil Service.

Re: Most US jobs created since 2005 are not conventional full-time work

#63
post #2

> “We find that 94% of net job growth in the past decade was in the alternative work category,” said Krueger. “And over 60% was due to the [the rise] of independent contractors, freelancers and contract company workers.” So, not exactly temp workers, but contract workers who require less overhead and are easy to fire.

Exactly why we need universal healthcare in the US It’s something every worker should be fighting tooth and nail for It would go a long way to breaking up the neoliberal corporate hegemony Sadly, and regardless of education and political leanings, Americans seem in love with a fictional account of the countries history. That it was all great 50 yrs ago without universal healthcare (when they were kids and not really…

> Exactly why we need universal healthcare in the US

I agree but the political will to do it is just not there. Not yet, anyway.

Re: Most US jobs created since 2005 are not conventional full-time work

#64
post #2

> “We find that 94% of net job growth in the past decade was in the alternative work category,” said Krueger. “And over 60% was due to the [the rise] of independent contractors, freelancers and contract company workers.” So, not exactly temp workers, but contract workers who require less overhead and are easy to fire.

Exactly why we need universal healthcare in the US It’s something every worker should be fighting tooth and nail for It would go a long way to breaking up the neoliberal corporate hegemony Sadly, and regardless of education and political leanings, Americans seem in love with a fictional account of the countries history. That it was all great 50 yrs ago without universal healthcare (when they were kids and not really…

We need more than universal healthcare; we need straight-up universal care. The idea should be that periods of unemployment or uncertainty are not terrifying gray areas for an average person. If people felt comfortable that they would have support for finding better pastures from a shitty job, they'd be more likely to seek them. If they felt more confident that they had prospects after a layoff, they'd be more likely to look for alternate employment instead of sitting around in an abandoned factory town as it rots to the ground around them.

I think it comes down to the fact that risk-taking cannot be a luxury, if we want the United States to remain a competitive and dynamic society. "Party of jobs?" How about a party for workers?

After all, as many conservatives will happily tell you, true value comes from the heads, the hearts, and the hands of individuals. Why are we giving so much free stuff to Big Jobernment?

Re: Most US jobs created since 2005 are not conventional full-time work

#65
It's unsurprising considering the increasing costs and regulations imposed upon full time workers.

When you see figures on what workers are paid, the figure should be "total compensation", which includes things like benefits, FICA taxes paid on behalf of the employee, etc. These can easily add 50% to the compensation. Showing just the wage is disingenuous.

Re: Most US jobs created since 2005 are not conventional full-time work

#66
This report from GAO[1] published in 2015, referenced in the report, referenced in TFA (whew), is very eye opening and worth a read.

It states very clearly how the economy is changing. Public policy will need to adapt to this new environment. Also, this is just the beginning of a massive shift in work that was predicted as far back as the Regan administration.

1: http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-15-168R

Re: Most US jobs created since 2005 are not conventional full-time work

#67
post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Exactly why we need universal healthcare in the US It’s something every worker should be fighting tooth and nail for It would go a long way to breaking up the neoliberal corporate hegemony Sadly, and regardless of education and political leanings, Americans seem in love with a fictional account of the countries history. That it was all great 50 yrs ago without universal healthcare (when they were kids and not really…

> Americans seem in love with a fictional account of the countries history. This shouldn't be about historical narratives or ideology, that's largely why public health insurance is dead-on-arrival in US politics. Both sides are terribly ideological about it and unrealistic as a result. The healthcare industry is already the most heavily regulated of all industries in the US. Saying it's been held back from government…

Wouldn't universal health care and public health insurance be completely different things? The primary issue with "insurance" as I see it is that it separates where the cost is generated from who pays it. This removes the responsibility and incentive to keep costs low. I'd hope if we had a universal health care system this would not be the case.

Re: Most US jobs created since 2005 are not conventional full-time work

#68

You'd think that where workers are easy to fire such as in the US, there would be less incentive to use contractors over employees, than in places with very rigid rules for firing.

Full-time employees have to be provided healthcare and benefits. Contractors do not.

That sure weighs in the other direction. But presumably no contractor or other non-employee would (should) work for less cost to the employer since they still have to fund pensions, healthcare etc?

I'm guessing that the situation is that in some sectors there are people now working as "contractors" for the same type of money they would be making as employees - but without benefits.

So it's a good thing at least that all this translates to fantastic growth which ultimately trickles down... /s

Re: Most US jobs created since 2005 are not conventional full-time work

#69

It's unsurprising considering the increasing costs and regulations imposed upon full time workers. When you see figures on what workers are paid, the figure should be "total compensation", which includes things like benefits, FICA taxes paid on behalf of the employee, etc. These can easily add 50% to the compensation. Showing just the wage is disingenuous.

Can you give some examples of what these costs are and how they've increased since 2005 (or 1995)?

Re: Most US jobs created since 2005 are not conventional full-time work

#70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Exactly why we need universal healthcare in the US It’s something every worker should be fighting tooth and nail for It would go a long way to breaking up the neoliberal corporate hegemony Sadly, and regardless of education and political leanings, Americans seem in love with a fictional account of the countries history. That it was all great 50 yrs ago without universal healthcare (when they were kids and not really…

We need more than universal healthcare; we need straight-up universal care. The idea should be that periods of unemployment or uncertainty are not terrifying gray areas for an average person. If people felt comfortable that they would have support for finding better pastures from a shitty job, they'd be more likely to seek them. If they felt more confident that they had prospects after a layoff, they'd be more likely…

We need guaranteed minimum income, its the most freedom enhancing way of solving these problems. Give people cash, give them financial literacy training, the rest ought to work out okay.
Post reply on HN