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The Rise of the Gig Economy

Alfredo Mendez/Flickr via Creative Commons

With the push of a button, you can summon a driver, rent out your apartment, or hire someone to paint your fence. These are all possible because of mobile platforms that directly connect individuals to freelance work. What does the so-called “gig economy” mean for the future of work? Will full-time jobs with benefits eventually be a thing of the past? Supporters argue that these jobs offer flexibility and the opportunity to be your own boss. In this hour, we speak to a critic of the on-demand economy, who argues that sites like Uber and Upwork allow companies to cut costs while exploiting workers. Is the gig economy a raw deal? 

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Sheilah Kast is the host of On The Record, Monday-Friday, 9:30-10:00 am.
Maureen Harvie is Senior Supervising Producer for On the Record. She is a graduate of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and joined WYPR in 2014 as an intern for the newsroom. Whether coordinating live election night coverage, capturing the sounds of a roller derby scrimmage, interviewing veterans, or booking local authors, she is always on the lookout for the next story.