VOA慢速英語：1/4的美國人通過在線經(jīng)濟賺錢

One in Four Americans Make Money from the Online Economy

1/4的美國人通過零工經(jīng)濟賺錢

Nearly one in four Americans made money over the last 12 months by using their personal computers or other devices connected to the Internet.

近1/4的美國人在過去十二個月里通過使用連接到互聯(lián)網(wǎng)的個人電腦或其它設(shè)備賺錢。

The Pew Research Center, an independent research group in Washington, found that people are using the Internet to find extra work.

皮尤研究中心是華盛頓一家獨立研究組織，該中心發(fā)現(xiàn)人們開始利用互聯(lián)網(wǎng)尋找額外工作。

They go online to sell things such as used books and furniture or they offer to provide services such as babysitting, house cleaning or computer repairs.

人們上網(wǎng)售賣二手書和家具等物品，或是提供保姆、房屋保潔或電腦維修等服務(wù)。

The Pew Center asked people if they make money from the Internet or computing devices, and, if so, what they do to earn their pay. The answers provided the findings of Pew's new report on what has been called the "Gig Economy."

皮尤研究中心調(diào)查了人們是否通過互聯(lián)網(wǎng)或計算機設(shè)備賺錢，如果答案是肯定的，他們又是做什么工作來賺錢。這些答案為皮尤研究中心這份針對零工經(jīng)濟的新報告提供了調(diào)查結(jié)果。

Pew found that income earned on the Internet can come in many forms. Many Americans said they used their computers to do extra work.

皮尤研究中心發(fā)現(xiàn)，互聯(lián)網(wǎng)收入有多種形式。許多美國人都表示他們用計算機做額外工作。

About five percent of Americans said they did online computer work over the last year. Some of these people said they had jobs that paid a few pennies each to take surveys. In these surveys, people are asked for their opinions of different products or well-known people.

大約5%的美國人表示，過去一年他們做了在線計算機工作。其中一些人表示他們就是參加每次幾個小錢的調(diào)查。在這些調(diào)查中，他們被問到自己對不同產(chǎn)品或名人的意見。

Others typed reports or other information on their home computers.

另一些人在家用電腦上打字輸入報告或其它信息的文字。

Using digital devices to offer a service online was another way to earn income.

使用數(shù)字設(shè)備提供在線服務(wù)是另一種賺錢方式。

About two percent of Americans earned money from ride-sharing companies such as Uber and Lyft. When drivers are ready to pick up passengers, they use their ride-share company's app. The computer program lets them know when passengers are ready to be picked up and how to reach them.

大約2%的美國人通過Uber和Lyft等共享公司賺錢。當(dāng)司機準(zhǔn)備好搭載乘客時就使用共享公司的應(yīng)用程序。當(dāng)乘客準(zhǔn)備好搭車時，這些計算機程序會告訴他們，并告訴他們?nèi)绾握业匠丝汀?/p>

Some people make their homes, apartments, or rooms inside their homes, available for money to people visiting their cities. A popular website people use to makes rooms available is www.airbnb.com.

有些人把自己的住宅、公寓或家里的房間租給游客來賺錢。人們用來出租房間的一個常用網(wǎng)站是www.airbnb.com。

Other people use apps on their computer devices that permit people to hire them to babysit, walk dogs or do repair or clean-up work. Apps operated from phones or tablets connect them to people looking for such services.

其他人使用計算機設(shè)備上的應(yīng)用程序，這些應(yīng)用程序允許人們雇傭他們做保姆、遛狗、或是從事維修或清潔工作。在手機或平板電腦上運行的應(yīng)用程序?qū)⑺麄兣c尋找這類服務(wù)的人們聯(lián)系到一起。

How Much Does Online Work Pay?

在線工作薪酬如何?

About 60 percent of people involved in the gig economy say the income they earn is important to them. But just one in five people who sell things online say the income is enough to be important to their lives.

大約60%參與臨時經(jīng)濟的人表示他們賺到的這筆錢對自己很重要。但是只有20%在網(wǎng)上出售物品的人表示，這筆收入對他們的生活足夠重要。

Only 16 percent believe doing online work will lead to a meaningful career.

只有16%的人認(rèn)為，從事在線工作會通向一項有意義的職業(yè)。

But 37 percent say the extra income earned from online jobs helps them make up for shortages in money.

但是37%的人表示，通過在線工作賺到的這筆額外收入可以彌補他們的資金短缺。

The number one reason people gave for taking online jobs was that the work gave them something to do and was fun. Pew said that reason was listed by 42 percent of people it questioned.

人們給出的參與在線工作的頭號理由是這項工作讓他們有事可做，很有趣。皮尤研究中心表示，他們調(diào)查的42%的人列出了這項理由。

But, opinions about the online economy are mixed.

但是人們對在線經(jīng)濟的看法不一。

Sixty-eight percent say the gig economy is good for people who want flexibility when they work. Flexibility means they do not have to work when they are at their regular jobs or have family or school events or other things they want or need to do.

68%的被調(diào)查者表示，零工經(jīng)濟對那些需要工作靈活性的人士有好處。靈活性意味著當(dāng)他們正常上班，或有家庭、學(xué)校活動時，或他們想做或必須做其它事情時，他們就能不做這些(零工經(jīng)濟的)工作。

Some People Feel Computer Work Is Advantage Employer

有人認(rèn)為計算機工作有利于雇主

But, 23 percent say online work lets companies take advantage of employees and only 16 percent believe they can build careers with gig work. By taking advantage, some people mean they do not get paid enough for work done through online companies.

但是23%的被調(diào)查者表示，在線工作讓公司可以充分利用員工。還有16%的被調(diào)查者認(rèn)為，他們可以通過零工經(jīng)濟來創(chuàng)業(yè)。通過充分利用，有人表示他們通過在線公司所做的工作未能獲得足夠報酬。

About one in five say they take online jobs to gain work experience, while 17 percent say it is because they cannot find other jobs.

大約20%的被調(diào)查者表示，他們從事在線工作來獲取工作經(jīng)驗，而17%的被調(diào)查者表示是因為他們找不到其它工作。

What kind of people work online or use online devices to find work? The answer appears to be: mostly people who already have jobs.

哪種人會從事在線工作或是使用在線設(shè)備找工作?答案似乎是：他們大多數(shù)是已經(jīng)有工作的人。

According to Pew, 68 percent say they are already employed full time or part time. Twenty-three percent say they are students. Thirty-two percent say they have no other jobs.

根據(jù)皮尤研究中心的調(diào)查，68%的被調(diào)查者表示，他們已經(jīng)有全職或兼職工作。23%的被調(diào)查者表示他們是學(xué)生。32%的被調(diào)查者表示他們沒有工作。

I'm Jonathan Evans.

喬納斯·埃文斯報道。