Three-quarters of young people working in so-called “Precarious
Employment”, which includes zero-hours contracts, are happy with
their working conditions and nearly half (46 percent) are opposed
to banning them according to a major new study. The
findings fly in the face of the Government's expected crack down
on zero hours contracts as part of its forthcoming employment
White Paper.
The new report from the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ)
concludes: “Precarious work serves a purpose for young people
when there is a recognition that flexibility works both ways,
when such jobs are ‘stepping stones' to later career advancement,
and when they feel that they are able to voice their concerns to
their employers.
“For many young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, such
‘micro jobs' can be their first experiences of work, and can lead
to longer, full-time employment. A ban on zero-hour contracts,
therefore, risks focusing on the precise terms of the employment
contract rather than the spirit in which such employment
relationships are conducted.”
The CSJ report, Just a Job?, comes with ministers poised
to unveil flagship legislation, The Employment Rights Bill,
designed to strengthen workers' rights in the face of opposition
from business groups.
Labour's 2024 election manifesto promised a crackdown on
zero-hours contracts. It says: “Labour will end ‘one-sided'
flexibility and ensure all jobs provide a baseline level of
security and predictability, banning exploitative zero-hours
contracts and ensuring everyone has the right to have a contract
that reflects the number of hours they regularly work, based on a
12-week reference point.”
The CSJ study finds that over half a million 16-34-year-olds are
on zero-hours contracts, part of more than 11 million young
people in ‘precarious' employment characterised by arrangements
such as flexible hours working, annualised hours contracts, and
other types of working arrangements. Young people on these types
of precarious contracts comprise almost 70 per cent of the total
age group of 16-34 year olds nationally.
Contrary to the planned curbs, a Focaldata poll of over 1,000
young people for the CSJ found that a majority (74 per cent) of
young people in precarious work were satisfied with their working
conditions, as opposed to 24 per cent dissatisfied. More than
half (54 per cent) were content with the level of notice they
received when their shifts were cancelled.
Instead, the main demand was for more work and therefore more
income. On average 35 per cent wanted 3-5 more hours of work per
week, and 29 per cent wanted 10 or more hours per week; among the
most deprived these figures were higher at 35 per cent and 31 per
cent respectively.
More broadly, almost two-thirds of young people wanted ‘micro
jobs' to act as a stepping stone to further their career –
mentioning longer, full-time employment and career paths
featuring progression and training.
The CSJ says: “Our research shows that zero-hours contracts (and
precarious and flexible work in general) seem to work well for
many employees and employers.
“For young people in particular – who encompass a large
proportion of those workers on these types of contracts – the
onus should be on ensuring a better understanding of employment
rights, that necessary progression and training is available, and
that barriers to permanent employment are overcome, rather than
an outright ban of any type of working arrangement.”
Nikita Malik, Head of Work and Opportunity at the Centre for
Social Justice said:
“In its pursuit of so-called “good work” it would be a mistake
for the Government to chuck out zero-hour contracts. Precarious
work exists on a spectrum, with zero-hour contracts or no
contract on one end, and short-hour and fixed-term contracts on
the other.
“Our research shows young people are largely satisfied with this
type of work and see it as a necessary stepping stone to other,
more permanent employment. For many, especially those from the
most disadvantaged backgrounds, it can provide the first critical
rungs on the employment ladder.
“The danger for the Government is that banning zero hours
contracts will not prevent bad employers from finding other ways
to exploit young people.
Rather than demonising
flexible working arrangements, the focus should be on meeting
young people's desire for more work and providing
on-the-job training and promotional pathways so that precarious
or temporary jobs can lead to satisfying and lucrative
careers.”
Luke*, a young person whose first job was a micro job working a
kitchen, said:
“My first job working in a cafe kitchen built my confidence with
meeting and working with new people and getting to know them. It
helped me move into permanent work as I ended up doing a similar
thing, washing up and food prep., so I already had experience. I
definitely felt less nervous in a bigger environment because of
the micro job. It was also good to do the Food Hygiene
qualification so I can think about what I might be doing right or
wrong. I also felt really happy getting paid."
Previously Luke had only done volunteering. With help from
one of the charity, Zink's, work coaches he is now working
in a permanent job in a restaurant kitchen.
Other recommendations in Just a Job? include:
- Mandatory requirement for employers to explain worker rights
on their contracts to under 24 year-olds.
- Work coaches at the new National Jobs and Careers Service to
work with people on precarious contracts to develop ‘progression
plans' to boost skills and move into permanent employment.
- Increase awareness of young people on precarious working
contracts that they can enter the new Job Centre Plus and
national career service centres, even if they already have a job.
- Expand the definition of underemployment used by the ONS to
understand the true scale of young people wanting to work more
hours in their jobs.
ENDS
Editor's Notes
* Real name withheld
The CSJ used the polling company Focaldata to survey a nationally
representative sample of 1,004 young people aged 16-34 years,
including those in low-income households earning less than
£30,000 per annum, between 22 July 2024 and 2 August 2024.
Click here to read the
report.
