A record 1.23 million people are now on zero-hours contracts as their main job, an increase of 91,000 in a year, according to the Work Foundation at Lancaster University.
This rise, driven by 16-to-24-year-olds, brings the total to 181,000 more than when the Labour government took power in July 2024, despite its pledge to end precarious work for UK workers.
The upcoming Employment Rights Act, due to come into effect in 2027, will ban “exploitative” zero-hours contracts, promising guaranteed hours, advance shift notice, and compensation for cancellations. Measures on zero-hours contracts are still subject to consultation and secondary legislation in the House of Commons.
The data shows younger workers are 5.1 times more likely to be on these contracts (12.5% versus 2.44% of workers over 25), and women are disproportionately affected. The Work Foundation estimates that 77% (943,000) are not in full-time education, and a third rely on these shifts for full-time work, often seeking more hours.
Ben Harrison, director of the Work Foundation, stressed that the “one-sided flexibility” leaves over a million workers uncertain of their income. Unions and charities, including the Young Women’s Trust and the TUC, are urging the government to urgently implement the new legislation to provide much-needed security and improve living standards.
