From Entrepreneur, Alex Chriss makes a strong case that the debate about the on-demand economy may be missing the underlying changes in the economy. Alex reports that the number of self-employed workers was rising even before the on-demand economy; he observes that the on-demand labor force is small and primarily part-time; and connecting supply and demand is the driving force. He writes:
More than an argument for the enduring power of the on-demand business model, the three trends outlined above describe structural changes to our economy. So, the really important question is not “will there will be an Uber for every industry?” Instead, it should be: “how can we re-imagine the ways in which people operating in a new labor market reality find stability and support?” The answer to this question runs much deeper than the staying power of any single company or trend.
Those of us who care deeply about the growing ranks of people finding work through on-demand platforms need to readjust the lens so we can focus on what’s really happening here. More than one-in-three Americans are now working in some form of self-employment (with or without on-demand.). They’re doing so without the stability, infrastructure — and in some cases even a clear articulation of the rules — that they deserve. Let’s stop pretending that the on-demand economy is either our salvation or a fad. It’s neither. It’s simply the continuing evolution of our workforce. A workforce that needs our help to develop the solutions and provide the clarity for them to thrive.
Read the full story at Seeing Through the On-Demand Smoke Screen
