The GMB trade union in the UK GMB has published research that shows 10 million people in the country are currently in insecure work.

The research, shown at the union’s 100th annual congress in Plymouth today, shows that up to one in three of the workforce are now in ‘precarious employment’. ‘Precarious’ is defined as those in the gig economy, on zero or short hours contracts, temporary workers, the underemployed and those at risk of bogus self-employment.

A GMB poll asked more than 1,000 ‘precarious workers’ about their finances and priorities and the poll found that 61% had suffered stress or anxiety as a result of their current job. Moreover, 61% said they have been to work while unwell for fear of not being paid, losing their job or missing out on future hours; while 35% would struggle to cope with an unexpected bill for £500; and 69% say their cost of living is rising faster than their earnings. Meanwhile, 78% previously had permanent employment.

“Up to ten million people go to work either not knowing what their hours are, if they’ll be able to pay the bills, or what their long-term prospects are,” Tim Roache, GMB General Secretary, said. "That's a sorry state of affairs in the 21st century and a product of government's failure to tackle bogus self-employment, the use of agency contracts a business model and point blank refusal to ban zero hours contracts.

“We hear a lot about employment figures, well this research shows the today’s job market is based on a shaky foundation of insecure work where people are doing their best but still not able to get on. Insecure work impacts on people’s health, their families and whether they are able to plan for the future,” Roache said. "If our economy slows down even further, these precarious workers will be the first to suffer. There is a political choice to be made. Our workforce, communities and indeed the Treasury is paying the price of insecure work, it's not fair and it's not sustainable."

Last year, Prime Minister Theresa May ordered a review, which will be led by Matthew Taylor, into self-employment and zero-hours contracts.