The number of people in ‘insecure work’ in the UK, has risen by more than 660,000 (27%) since 2011, according to a study commissioned by the TUC (Trades Union Congress) from the Learning and Work Institute. The TUC defines insecure work as seasonal, casual, temporary or agency work, those on zero-hours contracts and low-paid self-employed workers.

The TUC states that this growth in people going into precarious work is being driven mainly by traditional industries, rather than newer tech sectors.

The research showed that education workers account for over one tenth of the increase as the number in insecure work has risen by 82,000 since 2011 (+42%).  Key findings from the research also show that the number of people in insecure work within the restaurant and pub industry more than doubled, rising by 146,000 (+128%) since 2011.

“Insecurity at work is becoming the new normal for too many workers,” TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said. “It’s happening across new and old industries, with workers forced onto shady contracts whether they’re Uber drivers, bar staff or teaching assistants.”

The TUC estimates that over 3 million people now work in insecure jobs – up from 2.4 million in 2011. That represents 1 in 10 workers in the UK.

“The rules that protect workers need to be dragged into the 21st Century. The government’s Taylor review is a prime opportunity to sort this,” O’Grady said. “But we also need to get more people into unions.  Workers in unionised workplaces are twice as likely to be on secure contract.”

The TUC states what all these contracts have in common is that they leave working people in the position where their wages can fluctuate without warning. They also state that these workers find it hard to get their basic employment rights respected while missing out on key protections like sick pay and they are at the mercy of bosses who can withdraw their hours or even take them off the job with no notice.