The Growth of Non-Standard Work in the U.S.: Analyzing the Development of Contingent & Alternative Work Arrangements, 2005 to 2015

Abstract

In this paper, I investigate recent trends in non-standard work. Using data collected by the RAND Institute in 2015, I estimate the prevalence of contingent and alternative work arrangements. I compare my estimates to the 2005 measures of contingency and alternative employment put forth by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In addition to measuring the extent of these arrangements, I try to identify the key characteristics of the non-standard workforce. This paper finds that, since 2005, the contingent workforce has grown as a percentage of the total employed population. The 2015 data also indicated a significant rise in alternative work arrangements. These increases occurred across demographics, industries, and occupations. This paper also finds that contingent workers tend to earn less than their non-contingent counterparts and are more likely to live in poverty. Not surprisingly, contingent workers express a strong preference for more conventional, permanent employment. Depending on the type of alternative arrangement, earnings, wages, job preferences, and likelihood of living in poverty varied widely. Finally, this paper outlines the implications associated with the rise of non-standard work for the American economy and society.