The Bureau of Labor Statistics announced today they plan to produce a “Contingent Workforce Supplement”, along with the Census Bureau, to an upcoming Current Population Survey. Labor Secretary Tom Perez says:
“This is an exciting, entrepreneurial development that is tapping into powerful consumer demand while giving workers flexibility and enabling them to monetize existing assets. At the same time, the on-demand economy raises important questions about how to continue upholding time-honored labor standards and how to promote economic security for American workers in a changing labor market.”
This new (and potentially interesting) data will be available with the May 2017 Current Population Survey. There were several articles on this announcement today in the following publications:
Vanity Fair – http://www.vanityfair.com/news/2016/01/obama-administration-on-demand-economy
Fast Company – http://www.fastcompany.com/3055891/how-big-is-the-gig-economy-the-government-is-finally-going-to-find-out
NBC News – http://www.nbcnews.com/business/careers/workplace-future-you-re-your-own-better-or-worse-n504641
The Consumerist – http://consumerist.com/2016/01/26/government-will-try-to-figure-out-how-many-of-americans-are-now-part-of-the-on-demand-workforce/