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Our Research

Are the Self-Employed Really Their Own Boss?

Evidence on the Degree of Autonomy and Control the Self-Employed Have Over Their Work

The “Missing Self-Employed”

How Better Data Change the Picture of Self-Employment in the United States

More Insights from the AJQS

Report | October 2025

The American Job Quality Study: 2025 State of the U.S. Labor Force

Gallup, Jobs for the Future, the Families & Workers Fund, and the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research

Summary

Anyone who has held a job knows that work is often about more than just a paycheck. And yet, too often, conversations about the economy focus on job quantity, not quality. These numbers tell only part of the story. They miss whether jobs actually allow workers to thrive. The American Job Quality Study (AJQS) was launched to fill that gap. This report offers an initial look at the findings from the 2025 AJQS, providing a clear picture of the state of job quality in America today.

Contact Us

To speak with one of our experts, email ajqs@upjohn.org.