Are jobs disposable now?
How do AI, technology and contracting change the way companies and workers relate?
In this episode of The Sound of Economics, host Rebecca Christie speaks about the future of work with Bruegel’s Alexandre Mendonça and MIT professor Paul Osterman, author of a new book called Disposable Workers: the Transformation of Employment. In the United States and the European Union, companies are shifting away from long-term permanent jobs to a system with less certainty. Which industries have been most affected and how does that look for their workers? Who benefits from part-time work? Which workers are most disadvantaged? How can public policy adjust around these new dynamics? Artificial intelligence changes what skills workers need and immigration trends shape which workers are available. What conditions will help the economy grow and thrive?
Related research:
- Osterman, P. (2026) 'Disposable Workers: The Transformation of Employment', Upcoming, Harvard University Press
- Mendonça, A. (2025) 'On Labor Markets, Inequality and Productivity', Dissertation, Stockholm School of Economics
- Christie, R., M. Grzegorczyk and D. Mulcahy (2022) 'Better pensions for the European Union’s self-employed', Policy Contribution 05/2022, Bruegel
Related content
Europe’s long-term care gap: longevity risk and health uncertainty
Future EU long-term care demand hinges more on health trajectories than ageing alone, making prevention and healthy ageing central
Bruegel Annual Meetings | 2-3 September 2026
As Europe faces defining choices, the Bruegel Annual Meetings 2026 will explore the trade-offs shaping its future
What the US-Canada trade war means for Europe
As the EU’s top trading partners fight, what are the lessons for the single market?
Iceland, Switzerland, Europe
What should the European Union offer to nearby countries that do not want to become member states?