Precarious work and the welfare state

Ettlinger, 2007

whilst precarity is seen to be a post-fordist phenomenon it was actually pervasive during the height of Fordism

Lorey, 2012

precarity is seen as new as those who would be in the white middle class are now experiencing it

(dismissive of the gender, racial and class based experiences of precarity before)

Kiersztyn, 2008

difficult to define precarity despite its political and social significance

ILO, 2016

non standard work = temporary, part-time, dependant self-employment

The Taylor Review, 2017

worker health impacted by low quality work

• increased cost when workers miss work

Allan et al., 2021

disrupted identity in precarious work

Sumner et al., 2020

temporary employment = same health levels as unemployed

Waite, 2009

not all those who are in precarious jobs feel precarious - subjective, agency

Lain et al., 2019

precarity is influenced by wider life situation

Waters, 2023

welfare reforms have produced part-time low-paid work which does not necessarily lead to higher paid work in the future

despite high employment this increase in employment is seen in low income jobs

increasing number of households in the low-income category who require state support have someone in paid work

Lister, 2023

benefits system does not encourage people to work - psychological toll of getting by on a low income cements poverty

McNeil et al., 2021

notion that if you work hard you will get out of poverty is wrong

Fitzpatrick et al., 2023

3.8 million people in 2022 experienced destitution

72% of these has social security payments as their largest form of income

Jones et al., 2024

must discuss welfare state and job quality in tandem

simiplistic goals to increase number of hours of work systematically reduces the perceived importance of part-time work and unpaid work in the home (social reproduction)

benefits payments vary on monthly income = increase precarity

Hoynes et al., 2023

welfare reforms since 1990 have:

• increased financial incentive to go from unemployment to part-time

• decreased incentive to go from part-time to full-time

Fletcher and Wright, 2018

welfare system based off of surveillance, sanction and deterrence

Lorey, 2015

precarity created by the regulations that seek to eradicate it

SDG 8

productive, sustained, inclusive and protected work for all