The number of over 50s on a zero-hours contract has increased from 190,000 in 2014 to 288,000 in 2019 – an increase of 52 per cent in five years, according to new research from Rest Less, a jobs, volunteering and guidance site for the over 50s.
The analysis is based on data from the Office of National Statistics showing the level and rate of people on zero-hours contracts by age breakdown.
Rest Less’s analysis also shows that the increase in zero-hours contracts has been most dramatic amongst the over 65s. There has been a 72 per cent jump in the number of over 65s in zero-hours contracts between 2014 and 2019.
Zero Hours Contracts By Age Group
Stuart Lewis, Founder of Rest Stuart Lewis, Founder of Rest Less Less, commented: “Zero-hour contracts can be helpful to workers who are looking for lots of flexibility in how and when they choose to work – but they come at a cost. With no guaranteed earnings, if used inappropriately they can create significant pressure for employees to take any hours offered, whatever the conditions.
‘The rising number of over 50s with zero-hour contracts could be a general cause for concern but is particularly worrying as we brace ourselves for the spread of coronavirus – if people on zero-hours contracts cannot work due to self-isolation they may also not get paid*.”
Case studies are available on request
Notes to Editors
The dataset from the Office of National Statistics is EMP17 from February 2020
*UK workers are entitled to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) as long as they’ve started working for an employer, are sick for at least four days in a row, and earn on average at least £118 per week (£6,136 per year)
For media enquiries, please contact:
Aisling Gray
PR Lead, Rest Less
Phone: 07900996065
Email: [email protected]
About Rest Less
Rest Less (restless.co.uk) launched in December 2018 and is a membership community for the over 50s designed to help its members get more out of life. Rest Less has thousands of jobs available on its site from progressive age-diverse employers across the country. Rest Less is the leading site in the UK to offer flexible opportunities to work, volunteer or even start a new career path, specifically targeting the rapidly growing over 50s market.