As these examples show, many of the good things formerly associated with the employment contract can be provided by independent organizations. We call these independent organizations guilds, and we believe they represent one of the most promising approaches to solving the challenges posed by the new work arrangements. Guilds can provide tangible and intangible support for workers, and at the same time, be nimble enough to operate in an information economy where flexibility and the ability to adapt quickly are paramount. But unlike guilds of the Middle Ages or labor unions of the industrial era, these new organizations might not hold monopoly control over a profession or occupational group. Instead, in many cases, multiple guilds can be expected to compete to provide services to a given group of workers.
Three primary types of organizations are positioned to assume the guild role: occupationally-based worker associations; workforce brokers that match employers and workers; and regionally-based organizations with an interest in forwarding the interests of workers and firms in a particular geographic area.