Full Citation
Title: The Future of Work in New Jersey: Care Workers and the Gig Economy
Citation Type: Miscellaneous
Publication Year: 2019
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Abstract: Any discussion of the future of work is incomplete without a close examination of the care economy, how that care is organized, and how technology has had an impact on care providers. At issue is the aging U.S. population and the growing need for care for the elderly, sick, and disabled. Care comes in the form of a patchwork system, with care provided predominantly by unpaid family caregivers, for-profit establishments, and home health aides. In fact, preliminary analysis of labor force survey data for the United States indicates that the number of home health aides has surpassed housekeepers and childcare providers among domestic workers. The growth in the number of health aides reflects the changing demographic composition of the U.S. population and the increasing need for people to provide caring labor. However, the low value assigned to care work and lack of labor law protections may prove to be a large obstacle to finding sufficient care workers in the future to meet this demand. Domestic workers in the United States earn some of the lowest wages among all occupations and experience a host of poor working conditions and labor violations. A big issue is wage theft, in which domestic workers receive wages below the minimum, have their wages withheld arbitrarily and without recourse, or are not paid overtime. Lack of formal contracts and unpredictable work schedules are also common problems. The growing importance of the “gig economy” and employers’ use of Internet-based technology to hire care workers and housekeepers has contributed to the insecure nature of domestic work, and workers without access to the Internet have been placed at a disadvantage in access to jobs. Sexual harassment, sexual abuse, and other forms of physical abuse also plague domestic workers. Their vulnerability to sexual harassment and abuse is compounded by the fact that their work takes place in the private sphere. This issue has gained increasing attention in the wake of the global Me Too movement. The United States employs a large number of domestic workers to perform care work and housecleaning. Most domestic workers are women (92%) and about one third are immigrants, which is high compared to other occupations. In New Jersey, these figures are even higher: 97% of domestic workers are women and more than half are immigrants. In response to increased advocacy around the low pay and poor working conditions faced by domestic workers, eight states to date have passed some version of a domestic worker bill of rights in which domestic workers are guaranteed the minimum wage, overtime, rest periods, paid vacation time, disability benefits, and/or protection from sexual harassment and discrimination.1 New York was the first state to pass such a bill in 2010, while New Jersey has not yet followed suit. This study uses a mixed-methods approach to examine trends in the number and characteristics of domestic workers and their employers in New Jersey. The study focuses specifically on nannies and home-based childcare providers, housekeepers, and caregivers for the elderly and individuals with disabilities. An analysis of labor force survey data is used to provide a comprehensive account of domestic worker employment and earnings in New Jersey and how the state compares with the national average. The study also uses qualitative evidence to examine the potential for worker-centered digital platforms to support, rather than marginalize, domestic workers. Finally, a regression analysis using survey data of household employers in New Jersey was conducted to examine the demand for domestic workers and the extent to which household employers are aware of labor laws governing their domestic workers. New Jersey constitutes an interesting case not only because it has one of the largest immigrant populations in the United States, but also because it has typically taken a lead in implementing progressive labor market legislation. In fact, New Jersey is often considered the “incubator state” for progressive policies that can then be scaled up. The objective of this research is to better understand how states like New Jersey can support digital-platform work in a way that advances worker-centered interests rather than contributing to further marginalization and exploitation of workers.
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Authors: van der Meulen Rodgers, Yana; Zundl, Elaine
Publisher: Rutgers University
Data Collections: IPUMS CPS
Topics: Labor Force and Occupational Structure, Population Health and Health Systems
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