There are nearly 300,000 people aged 50+ working under a zero hours contract – the highest number for this age group since records began in 2013, according to new analysis of official government statistics from Rest Less, a digital community and advocate for people in their 50s, 60s and beyond.
Rest Less’s analysis of data issued in November 2022 by the Office of National Statistics, shows that the number of people aged over 50 working under a zero hours contract has nearly doubled in just under 10 years, moving from 149,000 in October-December 2013 compared with 296,000 in July-September 2022* – a 99% increase. More than a quarter (28%) of the total number of zero hours contracts (28%) are held by workers aged 50+.
Table 1: Zero Hours Contracts (ZHC) By Age Group, Oct-Dec 2013 vs July-Sept 2022
| Age Group | Oct-Dec 2013 | July-Sept 2022 | Difference | % Increase | Proportion of total ZHC |
| 16-24 | 214,000 | 380,000 | 166,000 | 77% | 36% |
| 25-34 | 119,000 | 165,000 | 46,000 | 39% | 16% |
| 35-49 | 103,000 | 203,000 | 100,000 | 97% | 19% |
| 50-64 | 107,000 | 223,000 | 116,000 | 108% | 21% |
| 65+ | 42,000 | 73,000 | 31,000 | 75% | 7% |
| Over 50s | 149,000 | 296,000 | 147,000 | 99% | 28% |
| All ages 16+ | 585,000 | 1,045,000 | 460,000 | 79% | N/A |
Chart 1: Number of people on aged 50+ on a zero hours contract 2013-2022
Stuart Lewis, Chief Executive of Rest Less, commented on the data: “Zero hours contracts can be a suitable option for people looking for hyper-flexible work whose schedules change regularly. For this reason, zero hours contracts are common amongst young people and also second jobbers who want to earn extra income on the side on a flexible basis. In the absence of sufficiently flexible work from many mainstream employers, zero hours contracts can also offer flexibility for older workers juggling caring and other life responsibilities with fluctuating schedules.
‘However, for people relying solely on a zero hours contract as their main source of income, they can be fraught with challenges and anxiety about where and when the next paycheck will come. In addition, employment rights are limited and amidst a cost of living crisis they can leave employees in an extremely vulnerable position.
‘The large rise in the number of people aged 50+ working under zero hours contracts is worrying. Whilst the flexibility they offer is a good fit for some, we know of many individuals who have turned to zero hours contracts as they have been unable to find a more permanent or structured type of work due to age discrimination or a lack of workplace flexibility. Others are juggling zero hours contracts alongside other part-time roles to top up working hours to make ends meet amidst double digit inflation.”
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Notes to Editors
*July-September time period was not available pre-2020
For media enquiries, please contact:
Aisling Gray
Head of Communications
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About Rest Less
Rest Less (restless.co.uk) launched in early 2019 and is a digital community and advocate for people in their 50s, 60s and beyond. Rest Less is on a mission to help its members get more out of life and offers content guidance and resources on topics spanning Jobs and Careers, Volunteering, Pensions, Learning, Money, Health and Lifestyle and Dating.