This report by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation reveals the labour market is systematically advantageous to 'insiders' - men in mid-life and those in secure jobs - at the expense of 'outsiders' - young people and older unemployed people, especially those with few or no qualifications. These 'outsiders' are more likely to work in sectors and low-quality forms of employment providing little security or opportunity for progression, with this disadvantage increasing over time. The study finds that although flexible working is attractive to many people of all ages, especially older workers, the rise of flexible working is intensifying these disadvantageous effects, because it is generally associated with low pay, poor training and lack of progression opportunities. Employers' increasing focus on retaining experienced staff at the expense of new recruits, and their reliance on informal recruitment, also disadvantage young people and older unemployed people. The report concludes by underscoring the importance for policy interventions that address these issues to focus on those with low qualifications, and on improving the quality of flexible work and the quality and relevance of training and qualifications, in order to enable the youngest and oldest in the labour market (and some women with childcare responsibilities in mid-life) to escape the cycle of low-status, temporary and low-skilled work.