Precarious employment and health: developing a research agenda

• DOI: 10.1136/jech.2005.045237
• Publication Date: 2007-03-19T22:14:13Z
• Authors: J Benach; C Muntaner
• Keywords: Temporary work; Job security; Labour market flexibility

New types of work arrangements can be as dangerous traditional unemployment for workers’ health

Since at least the late 1970s, “flexible production” has commonly been considered a positive and necessary innovation to ensure sustainable economic growth.1,2 The need “flexible” proposed workplace technical systems, schedules salaries, “flexibility” even recognised feature worker’s personality. Increasing labour flexibility means reducing constraints on movement workers into out jobs previously constrained by laws, union agreements, training systems or markets that protect income job security.3

Within this context, one best-known outcomes market growth “atypical” forms employment decline “standard” full-time, permanent jobs. Thus, standard full-time with benefits is now often replaced different non-standard such contingent, part-time contract, unregulated underground home-based work, many which are characterised variable schedules, reduced security, lower wages, hazards stressful psychosocial working conditions.4

There number reasons why public health researchers should concerned about relationships.5 Workers in flexible share characteristics (eg, credentials, low income, women, immigrant non-white) unemployed, while themselves experiencing bouts unemployment, factor strongly associated adverse outcomes.6,7 In addition, evidence suggests these …