This paper by the RSA explores how economic insecurity is experienced by workers, including those in non-standard employment arrangements such as zero-hours contracts, finding that workers increasingly feel that their income from work does not provide them with enough to maintain a decent standard of living and they are increasingly experiencing problems with income volatility. It reveals that many workers, including those in steady jobs, lack the resources needed to protect themselves against financial shocks: 36% would struggle to pay an unexpected bill of £100 and 59% would struggle to pay an unexpected bill of £500. The report concludes by offering a view on what policy and practice reforms will be needed to develop a new social contract that can tackle rising economic insecurity.
