Zero-Hours Contracts: "Flexibility" Is Not A Draw For The Majority Of Workers

A report recently undertaken by three labour market economists has found that 44% of workers on zero-hours contracts would like more working hours. In addition, and in contrast to the "flexibility" argument often put forward in support of the use of zero-hours contracts, only 28% of those surveyed saw flexibility as the basis for entering into one.

Economists Nikhil Datta, Giulia Giupponi and Stephen Machin from the Centre of Economic Performance conducted the study of 20,000 people in the UK on zero-hours contracts.

The report suggests one reason employers are using zero-hours contracts is to buffer the effect of the increase in the national minimum wage for workers over 25 earlier this year to £7.83 an hour. However, those backing the use of zero-hours contracts would argue that employers often use zero-hours contracts to meet budgetary restrictions which mean that otherwise they could not afford to hire the worker.