"We Are So Tired:” What Young Gig Workers Say About the Future of Work

At The Workers Lab, we're pioneering worker-centered labor research that amplifies workers' experiences and drives change.  Today, we're excited to release a groundbreaking new study that gives a voice to over 100 young gig workers as they share their vision for the future of work.

Youth Gig Workers' Experiences Matter

Gig and nonstandard workers–those working outside full-time, direct-hire, long-term employment–are among the most excluded group of workers. Black, Brown, queer, disabled, and young workers are more likely to lack access to the benefits and protections of traditional employees. Yet, their experiences are crucial for shaping a more inclusive economy. 

We believe that by centering workers who have been historically excluded, we can create an economy that truly works for everyone. We brought together more than 100 young workers, ages 16 to 24, who are disconnected from traditional employment arrangements–young gig workers–and asked them what it would take to imagine a better, more prosperous, more equitable future of work.

Here's what one of the youth gig worker participants had to say: 

This new report is part of our multi-year Gig Worker Learning Project, which aims to develop the first worker-centered, participatory data on how people work in today's economy. 

Our last report, “Just Make It Better:’ What Gig Workers Have to Say about Gig Work,” described key challenges faced by gig workers across sectors.

In this report, we engaged with young workers aged 16 to 24 navigating the complexities of gig and nonstandard work.

Our Approach: Participatory Action Research

Instead of treating workers as subjects, we've empowered them as participant-researchers. Youth gig workers were involved in every step of the process, including developing research questions, collecting data, and analyzing findings.  

Youth gig workers are tired:

Why This Research Matters

By listening to young gig workers, we can:

• Develop more effective and relevant labor policies
• Help businesses create better working conditions
• Inform education and training programs
• Guide the ethical development of AI and other technologies in the workplace

Young People are the Future of Work

The perspectives of young workers are crucial in shaping labor policies and practices. Their experiences navigating gig work, AI, and a rapidly changing job market offer invaluable insights for creating a more inclusive and equitable economy.

Youth gig workers want change:

Solutions for the future should be shaped by the leaders of the future, who are closest to the problems and have the most at stake. Rather than seeking to design and create opportunities for these people, leaders and decision-makers need to take a backseat, designing and creating opportunities with them, listening to their experiences, priorities, and ideas. 

This report represents a step in that direction, using a participatory approach to identify the workplace challenges faced by young people today and their vision for a better future of work. 

For The Workers Lab, this is not a one-time report, but an ongoing commitment to empower young people to be voices and agents of change.

What's Next: National Gig Work Survey

Our upcoming National Gig Work Survey, launching in 2025, will further amplify workers' voices and experiences on a larger scale.

Take Action

1. Read the full report
2. Share these insights with your network using #FutureOfWork #YoungGigWorkers
3. Sign up for our mailing list to stay updated on our work and future initiatives

Together, we can create a world where all workers are safe, healthy, secure, and have power. Let's reimagine the future of work – not for young gig workers, but with them.