Precarious jobs: Where are they, and how do they affect well-being?. (September 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lewchuk, Wayne
• Is Part Of: Economic and labour relations review. Volume 28:Number 3(2017)
• Page Start: 402
• Page End: 419
• Publication Date: 2017-09
• Subjects: Community participation -- employment precarity index -- household well-being -- measuring -- precarious employment -- standard employment relationship (SER); J88; Australia -- Economic conditions -- Periodicals; Industrial relations -- Australia -- Periodicals; Economics -- Periodicals; Industrial relations -- Periodicals; 331
• DOI: 10.1177/1035304617722943
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1035-3046

Abstract

By the end of the 20th century, there was general agreement that most labour markets were in transition and that employment was becoming less secure. However, official labour market data have not shown a dramatic increase in temporary or casual employment. This article takes a new look at the changing characteristics of employment and offers a new method to measure employment security: the Employment Precarity Index. We use the Employment Precarity Index to assess how insecure employment associated with a 'gig' economy might affect well-being and social relations, including health outcomes, household well-being and community involvement.