Department of Labor Logo United States Department of Labor
Dot gov

The .gov means it's official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you're on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

December 1989

On the definition of “contingent work”

Anne E. Polivka, Thomas J. Nardone

Lack of an established definition has hindered estimates of this segment of the labor force. Factors in defining contingency should include job security and work hours, and measurement may require a combined household-establishment survey. This article examines several issues surrounding contingent work, including its definition, reasons for its existence, and methods for measuring the number of contingent jobs.

Download PDF »