Ryan FowlerA new study by the Work Foundation at Lancaster University has identified 1.4 million workers who are both in insecure jobs and living in private rentals, exposing them to significant financial risks.
According to the research, these workers are caught in a ‘double jeopardy’ due to unstable employment and the rising costs of renting.
Alice Martin, head of research at the Work Foundation, described the situation: “Workers in severely insecure employment – such as those on zero-hour contracts or in temporary work – are particularly vulnerable to the rising rents and lack of protections in the private rented sector.”
The analysis indicates that workers in insecure jobs are more likely to spend a higher percentage of their earnings on rent compared to those in secure positions.
This issue disproportionately affects younger and minority workers, with significant implications for their financial stability and housing security.
Ben Twomey, chief executive of Generation Rent, emphasized the need for stronger protections: “People across the country are in desperate need of security in their lives – both at home and at work. This must end.”
Paul Nowak, general secretary of the TUC, also commented on the findings: “Insecure work is an epidemic in the UK. This research lays bare the financial precarity of those in insecure work, who struggle to pay their rent each month and are particularly vulnerable to rent hikes.”
The report calls for urgent government action, recommending an Employment Bill to reduce insecure work and reforms to support those living in private rentals.
