December 21, 2023
Improved knowledge is required on the thousands and thousands of US staff in “nonstandard and contract work preparations,” in accordance with a report by the US Authorities Accountability Workplace. Enhancements might assist policymakers and others higher perceive this rising labor market, it said.
The report recommends the US Division of Labor and the Workplace of Administration and Price range work to extend collaboration amongst federal companies to enhance knowledge about these staff. One chance is establishing a working group to enhance knowledge.
The GAO defines nonstandard and contract work preparations as work that’s not everlasting, year-round and full-time with predictable hours. Its definition of contract employee preparations embody impartial contractors, “electronically mediated staff” who discover short-term jobs by means of web sites or apps, and “contract corporations” that make use of or contract with staff.
Estimates of the scale of this workforce vary from lower than 5% to greater than 30% of the full workforce, relying on the kind of association measured, how it’s outlined and the methodology used, the GAO reported. Knowledge can also be restricted on staff’ outcomes equivalent to office security, wages and entry to advantages. Nonetheless, the GAO famous accessible knowledge, to this point, indicated these staff typically have fewer advantages and office protections than everlasting, full-time workers.
“Knowledge assortment on nonstandard work preparations is fragmented throughout at the least seven federal companies, which measure totally different populations and use various phrases and methodologies to satisfy particular functions,” the GAO wrote. The result’s limitations to knowledge high quality and estimates that aren’t straight comparable.
For instance, the GAO wrote {that a} “canine walker” could possibly be categorised 10 alternative ways relying on the company. Examples embody “contingent employee,” “contractor,” “nonemployee,” “impartial contractor” and “sole proprietor.”
“Federal companies have taken some steps to handle knowledge limitations regarding nonstandard and contract staff, equivalent to commissioning a panel to evaluation a key survey of those staff,” the GAO wrote. “Nonetheless, interagency efforts don’t embody an ongoing collaborative mechanism, equivalent to a committee or working group, and haven’t been efficient in addressing knowledge high quality points or fragmentation.”
