Number of UK workers on zero-hours contracts rises by 15%

The use of zero-hour contracts has risen significantly in the last three months so that one in 40 UK workers are now using the controversial arrangements.

The number of workers on zero-hours contracts in the UK rose by 15%, or 104,000 contracts, according to Office for National Statistics figures from October to December 2015.

That equates to a total of 801,000 workers, or 2.5% of people in employment, compared to 697,000 workers in the same period in 2014.

Part of the increase may be accounted for by additional recognition of the term zero-hours, the ONS said, rather than new contracts.

Those people are statistically more likely to be young, part time, women or students compared to other people in employment.

On average, workers on zero-hours contracts work 26 hours a week. One third, or 37%, of these workers would choose to work more hours if they could, compared to just 10% of people in other kinds of employment.

The youngest people in the workforce make up a huge number of those on zero-hours contract. Some 38% of people on zero-hours contracts are aged 16 to 24, and 23% of all workers on these contracts are in full-time education.

Research published by the TUC shows that average weekly earnings for zero-hours workers are just £188, compared to £479 for permanent workers.

Two-fifths (39%) of zero-hours workers earn less than £111 a week – the qualifying threshold for statutory sick pay – compared to 1 in 12 (8%) permanent employees.