Department of Labor plans labor survey that will include on-demand jobs

The Department of Labor said it plans to revive a survey of “contingent” workers, which could shed new light on the scope of the so-called on-demand economy. Secretary of Labor Tom Perez said that the agency is working with the Census Bureau to run the Contingent Worker Supplement as part of a larger survey in May 2017. “It will give us reliable, credible insight into what’s going on across a range of work arrangements — from independent contractors to temporary employees to workers holding multiple jobs at the same time,” Sec Perez said. It will be the first time that the survey has been run since 2005, when it was discontinued because of budgetary constraints.

Sen Mark Warner (D-VA) praised Sec Perez's announcement. Sen Warner has become a leading voice calling for a safety net for workers in the on-demand economy who, as independent contractors rather than employees, lack certain benefits. “If we are going to make this 21st century economy work better for more people while encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship, it is crucial that we have better, more accurate data about who and how workers are participating in the on-demand economy,” he said.