What We Learned From Interviews With 100 American Workers
Two Atlantic staffers discuss Inside Jobs, a months-long reporting project that included conversations with an obituary writer, a janitor, a train conductor, and many others.
Inside Jobs
Read what American workers have to say about their work
November: A Good, but Not Perfect, Jobs Report
The U.S. economy created 178,000 jobs last month and the unemployment rate hit a nine-year low, but wage growth declined slightly.
The Meaning Americans Find in Their Jobs
Conversations with 100 people about their work and how it shapes who they are
The Hidden Work of Keeping an Office Running
Debra Leonard-Porch, an administrative professional for over 35 years, reflects on her career and the pride she finds her work.
The Emotional Labor of Waitressing
Marie Billiel, who has worked in the restaurant industry for 10 years, talks about having to have a “mask on” for eight hours at a time.
What It’s Like Folding the Shirts That Get Thrown Back on the Shelf
Shawna Rule, a 21-year-old living in South Dakota, talks about juggling a full-time job, a part-time job, and a college degree.
The Life of a Lumberjack
Chuck Carlson, a logger in South Dakota, talks about having one of the most dangerous jobs in the country for over 30 years.
The Human at Human Resources
Jeni Strand, an HR executive in Fargo, North Dakota, talks about the challenges of building a workplace that respects employees’ time at home in an age of the smartphone.
Being an Investment Banker, Far Away From Wall Street
Brad Eichler, an executive at a Little Rock, Arkansas-based firm, talks about what hard work means to him when he’s traveling more than 100 days a year.
From Waitress to State Representative
Rhode Island's Moira Walsh thinks of herself not as a politician but “a waitress who happened to get pissed off enough to take a crack at it.”