The shift toward gig work might look good on unemployment charts, but it's masking a harder truth: total wage income isn't growing. Workers are spreading thinner across more positions, yet their paychecks aren't getting any fatter. That's why consumer spending keeps sputtering. For consumption to actually accelerate, policymakers need to rethink how wages flow through the gig economy—otherwise you're just shuffling deck chairs while the boat stays still.