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In the UK we call them "zero hours contracts." Or maybe "IR35" if the freelancer isn't freelance enough.

Basically they're on-demand labour with zero security and benefits.

Some percentage will count as genuine independent contract work work for a number of employers. But a larger percentage will be semi-employed temps hired on a per-project or as-needed basis.

Thus not quite in the same realm as Graeber's bullshit jobs, but certainly not employed in the sense of  traditional economic definitions.

by ThatBritGuy (thatbritguy (at) googlemail.com) on Wed Apr 22nd, 2015 at 05:09:26 AM EST
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There's some of that here, primarily in service provision for things like cable installation, electronics repair with retailers, and material delivery in construction (varies quite a bit by locality).  And professional wrestling strangely (I remember that being a big issue back when the WWF executive ran for Senate in Connecticut a few years back).  Financial planning jobs can be that way too.

Those jobs are generally shit, although the pay is a bit better than working part-time at the grocery store or something.

Be nice to America. Or we'll bring democracy to your country.

by Drew J Jones (pedobear@pennstatefootball.com) on Wed Apr 22nd, 2015 at 05:57:36 AM EST
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