Has work become less secure?
Examining the evidence on employment security
Examining the evidence on employment security
It is often said that work in the UK is becoming less secure. But this report finds that although pockets of insecurity exist, work is actually becoming more secure on most measures. Over the past decade, unemployment, long-term unemployment, and inactivity have all decreased in the UK. We’ve also seen fewer people working variable hours, working part time involuntarily or wanting to work more hours. Low pay and variable pay both declined too.
Our analysis tells us that rather than eliminating certain types of contract from the labour market (which has been the focus of much discussion around insecure and atypical work), choice and job quality should be at the heart of discussions about different ways of working.
A labour market with more choice will include diverse ways of working, including some forms of work that are less secure, but which suit some people’s preferences. The best way to protect people from insecure work that does not suit their needs is to strengthen enforcement of existing employment rights across the labour market and help employers to manage atypical working arrangements responsibly.
While these findings are based on UK data, the broader trends and implications should be of interest wherever you are based.
Download the executive summary and full report below
To enable the focus to remain on broader job quality, the CIPD’s key policy recommendations from this report concentrate on enforcement, and skills and learning.
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