Misclassification — when employers label their employees as "independent contractors" — is the single biggest reason precarious work is precarious.
That’s been a long‑standing issue, but it's increasingly widespread with the rise of the so-called gig economy and the boom in app-based work. Misclassification drives up corporate profits by denying workers basic employment, health and safety protections. And it costs all of us, because it means there's less government revenue to support critical social services.
Learn more about worker rights in the gig economy in our latest report on precarious work.