Posts tagged skilled workers
Skilled freelancing jumps as AI redefines work
July 27, 2026 // The Upwork (upwork.com) Research Institute surveyed 2,400 U.S.-based skilled workers between March and April 2026 to produce the report. Freelancers performing AI-augmented work on the Upwork Marketplace earned 34% more per hour than those not incorporating AI. AI-augmented professional services grew 72% in volume with earnings rising 22%, while generative AI and creative production work saw 90% growth in contract starts — yet per-contract earnings in that category declined by 13%.
Mamdani’s Minimum-Wage Hike Will Hurt Young Workers Most
November 14, 2025 // The Congressional Budget Office estimates that a 10 percent rise in the minimum wage reduces teen employment by about 0.7 percent. Using the same metric, raising New York City’s wage floor 82 percent would reduce Gotham’s teen employment by roughly 5 percent to 6 percent, on average. Teenagers who manage to keep their jobs will probably see fewer hours, meaning less job experience, fewer opportunities for mentoring, and slower wage growth in the future. Young people may have shot themselves in the foot, in other words, by supporting Zohran Mamdani. The soon-to-be-mayor’s “$30 by ’30” will make New York costlier, especially for the young, the least able to afford it.
IDENTIFYING & ADDRESSING TODAY’S LABOR CHALLENGES; A 2022 Study on the Impact of Labor Shortages in Franchising
April 12, 2022 // An inaugural study on the impact of labor shortages on franchised businesses by the International Franchise Association (IFA) and FRANdata reveals the availability of qualified labor is the number one challenge facing small businesses today. The study shows how the franchise business model is uniquely equipped to adapt to today's challenges, highlighting the many ways franchisors are helping their franchisees address the labor shortage.