Precarity and Labor Insecurity Across Economies

Precarity and labour insecurity have emerged as defining characteristics of twenty-first-century economies, driven by the spread of flexible contracts, weakened social protections and global competition. Workers in formal, gig and informal sectors face unpredictable hours, low and variable pay, and limited access to benefits such as sick leave and pensions. These conditions are not confined to low-wage or developing contexts; they also affect young graduates in advanced economies and volunteers in essential services. The phenomenon transcends national borders, intersecting with ecological change, infrastructural failures and social inequalities. Research highlights how unstable employment erodes aspirations, exacerbates health burdens and hinders social mobility, while policy and collective action responses struggle to keep pace with rapidly evolving labour markets. Understanding precarity requires a multidimensional lens that integrates economic, social and environmental factors to inform more resilient and inclusive labour policies.

Research from Nature Portfolio

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Precarity and Labor Insecurity Across Economies publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in precarity and labor insecurity across economies across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Precarity: A state of persistent uncertainty in work and life marked by unstable employment, low wages and inadequate social protection.

Zero-hour contract: A flexible employment agreement with no guaranteed minimum hours, leaving workers liable to unpredictable schedules and incomes.

Labour flexibilisation: The process by which labour markets shift towards short-term, part-time or temporary contracts and reduced regulatory safeguards.

Informal economy: Economic activities and employment that fall outside formal regulatory frameworks and social security systems.

References

1. The age of insecuritisation: Insecure young workers in insecure jobs facing an insecure future. Human Resource Management Journal (2023).
2. Socio-ecological precarity at the juncture of multiple crises. Progress in Human Geography (2023).
3. Precarious livelihoods at the intersection of fishing and sand mining in Cambodia. Ambio (2023).
4. The materiality of precarity: Gender, race and energy infrastructure in urban South Africa. Environment and Planning A Economy and Space (2021).