Job insecurity
Job insecurity refers to employment where workers lack the assurance that their jobs will remain stable from day to day, week to week, or year to year.
Workers in these circumstances often find themselves in insecure, precarious and contingent work arrangements, such as fixed-term contracts, on-demand work, seasonal jobs, casual employment, freelance roles and gig work.
Examples of job insecurity may include:
- jobs where the length of employment is unclear, or employment is temporary
- jobs where there are little or no entitlements or benefits including paid leave
- jobs where there are low levels of control
- the need to work multiple jobs.
Effects of job insecurity
The variety of insecure work arrangements is expanding, but the psychological impact on workers remains consistent. Job insecurity has been associated with an increased likelihood of psychological distress and psychiatric morbidity.
Through the use of labour hire intermediaries, gig platforms and dependent contracting, many workers experiencing job insecurity cannot access their workplace rights, and do not have protection or bargaining power.
Insecure workers are also more likely to experience low job control, high job demands, and poor workplace support compared to workers with secure positions.
Job insecurity has been identified as a hazard in the Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work Code of Practice 2024.
This guidance will help you meet your obligations under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 and the Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011.
Resources on job insecurity
- The job insecurity report - Parliament of Australia
References
- Cheng W. et al (2005) Job insecurity and its association with health among employees in the Taiwanese general population, Science Direct, accessed 10 October 2024
- Kvart S. et al (2021) Precarious Employment and Psychosocial Hazards: A Cross-Sectional Study in Stockholm County, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, accessed 10 October 2024
