In partnership with
If it feels like the world of work is changing faster than you can keep up, well, you’re not wrong.
This week’s biggest stories all point to one thing: the rules of earning are being rewritten in real time.
1. “Jobless Growth” Is Back
Historically, major waves of technology, from the steam engine to the internet, eventually created new kinds of work. Many experts hoped AI would follow the same pattern.
The World Economic Forum even predicted AI would create more jobs than it destroys. MIT’s Task Force on the Work of the Future argued technology wouldn’t just eliminate work, but reshape it. And Goldman Sachs forecast that AI could raise global GDP and ultimately expand employment. But...
So far, that future hasn’t quite arrived. Companies are getting more efficient (AI workslop aside) and profitable, but you don’t see, hear, or read about them hiring more people. Economists call this jobless growth: when the economy expands, but regular workers don’t see more opportunity or income.
That’s why so many people feel like they’re working harder than ever yet not getting ahead.
Earner’s Takeaway: You can’t count on the system to give you stability. You have to build your own.
Experience the Next Evolution of AI Intelligence
Watch The Worlds First AI Built for Cognitive Amplification live on October 15.
See how Pressmaster.ai turns one conversation into thirty days of authentic and impactful content.
Register free to join the launch event and experience the future of AI communication.
2. Freelance and Independent Work Are Surging (Supposedly)
Upwork reports that one in four skilled workers now freelance. And together they’re earning over $1.5 trillion. What used to be “side work” is now a permanent part of the economy.
The advantage: flexibility and control. The challenge: unpredictable income.
Earner’s Takeaway: If you freelance or run a small business, start thinking like a CFO, even if you’re a one-person shop. Track what’s coming in, plan for slow months, and build systems that protect your time and money.
3. Skills That Work With AI Are the New Currency
The AI jobs apocalypse is still on the table. However, and for the time being, it looks as if most people won’t be replaced by AI; they’ll be replaced by someone who knows how to use it better. (We’ve certainly experienced the strong need to AI-evolve in our gigs.)
The tools change fast, but the people who adapt fastest win.
Earner’s Takeaway: Ask yourself: What can I automate or augment this month that will make my work more valuable next month?
How to pick the right global payroll mode
Find your fit: Deel’s free guide breaks down 3 global payroll models with key benefits and tradeoffs for HR and finance teams.
4. Economic Anxiety Is Sky-High — But You Can Do Something About It
Nearly 80% of workers say they’re more worried about the economy than last year.
As always, the antidote to uncertainty is clarity.
Start simple:
Build an emergency fund (even $500 is a start).
Lock in a stable baseline income before chasing new gigs.
Put systems in place that protect your family if something unexpected happens.
Earner’s Takeaway: You don’t need to predict the future. You just need a plan that works no matter what happens.
Bottom Line
AI and the economy are rewriting the rules of work. And any business of any size can benefit from them. View it as (massive) change rather than a crisis and you’ll see new, blooming opportunities to build smarter, more resilient systems for how you earn and protect your money.
Want more strategies like this? Subscribe to The Earners Almanac for weekly guides on freelancing, gig work, and independent business.
-EA
Please share this email with someone who could benefit from it.