The traditional 9-to-5 day at a single employer isn’t a reality for many workers. Although data are limited on nontraditional workers, available data do show that more employers are using contractors, franchises, and technologies like just-in-time scheduling to meet their labor needs.

These new flexible work arrangements have important benefits for both businesses and employees, but our public safety net is often designed around traditional full-time work at a single, primary employer, and growing of number of workers and their families are falling through the cracks.

Proposals to address the changing nature of work often focus on income, with policymakers exploring whether we should raise the minimum wage or give everyone a universal basic income. But work is about more than wages, and financial security takes more than a steady paycheck.

Businesses, policymakers, and nonprofits can take steps to ensure employees reach stable financial ground:

  • Help families build up emergency savings.
  • Make work-related benefits universal and portable.
  • Reform the safety net and related protections.
  • Create avenues for workers to upskill and advance their careers throughout all stages of life.

Read the full article about family financial security by Caleb Quakenbush and Signe-Mary McKernan at Urban Institute.