International Trends in Insecure Work: A Report for the Trades Union Congress

An increase in insecure forms of work has been identified in most European countries. Arrangements such as fixed-term contracts, temporary working and employment via agencies have proliferated, arguably undermining ‘standard’ employment relationships and the securities they offer. However, while there is widespread agreement on the international expansion of insecure forms of work, the drivers and subsequent nature of that insecurity are thought to be highly variable. Drawing upon European Labour Force Survey data, this report adopts a case study approach to provide an account of some of these variations, in order to provide a concise and comparative account of international trends in insecure work.