New Restrictions on Independent Contractors Could Destroy Gig Work

Alexandra Lopez-Djurovic poses for a photograph in the parking lot of an Acme supermarket after shopping for a client, in Bronxville, N.Y., on July 1, 2020. Ms. Lopez-Djurovic was working full time as a nanny until her hours were cut substantially due to the coronavirus pandemic, so she started her own grocery delivery service that made up for some of her lost wages but not all. Kathy Willens/AP Photo

Commentary

The gig economy has become a crucial part of our nation’s economic infrastructure. Beyond platforms such as Uber and Lyft, independent contract workers are vital to many other sectors of our economy, from health care to the arts. In fact, gig work provides at least part-time income to 1 in 3 American workers, totaling $1.2 trillion to the U.S. economy in annual earnings.