Jobs: What It Means To Be ‘Disposable’ At Work

Jobs: What It Means To Be ‘Disposable’ At Work

From 1A by NPR

September 9, 2026 · 43 min

About this episode

The episode discusses the concept of disposable workers in today's labor market and the implications of changing work arrangements.

The way we work has changed dramatically over the last decade. Using AI is quickly becoming the norm in many workplaces when, just a few years ago, it felt closer to science fiction. And the hybrid work model that began during the pandemic has made remote work much more common. We’ve also seen shifts around what it means to be an “essential worker.” It’s a term that emerged during the pandemic, but has largely fallen out of our vocabulary. This category included nurses and doctors, government workers, those in transportation, food and agriculture, water, and waste management. But there’s a different name for a growing segment of the work population that includes those we once deemed essential — the “disposable” worker. Unlike their “essential” counterparts, the disposable workforce isn’t defined by the services they offer, but by the weakening contract between them and their employers. In honor of Labor Day week, we discuss what it means to be disposable in today’s labor market — and what happens when people abandon traditional work arrangements altogether. Find more of our programs online . Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a . See…

People in this episode

Host: Full Name

Topics covered

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: NPR

Books & works: 1A

More episodes of 1A

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the 1A podcast page.