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| Zero-hours contracts: 801,000 workers on zero-hours terms | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The number of workers on a zero-hours contract for their main job stood at 801,000 in late 2015, up by 104,000 from a year earlier, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has said. | |
| That meant 2.5% of the employed UK workforce was on such a contract. | |
| ONS statistician Nick Palmer said some of this rise could reflect greater recognition of "zero-hours" contracts. | ONS statistician Nick Palmer said some of this rise could reflect greater recognition of "zero-hours" contracts. |
| However, he added: "There's also nothing to suggest this form of employment is in decline." | However, he added: "There's also nothing to suggest this form of employment is in decline." |
| In its report, the ONS said there were about 1.7 million contracts that did not guarantee a minimum number of hours in November, meaning that many workers had more than one zero-hours contract. | |
| The previous estimate, for May 2015, was 2.1 million, but the ONS said that the estimates could be affected by seasonal factors and should not be directly compared. | |
| Those on zero-hours contracts were more likely to be young people, part-time workers, women, or those in full-time education when compared with other people in employment. | |
| Someone on a zero-hours contract worked an average of 26 hours a week. About a third of those on a zero-hours contract wanted to work longer, with most wanting more hours in their current job, as opposed to a different job that offered more hours. | |
| In comparison, only 10% of other people in other types of employment wanted more hours, the ONS said. | |
| The TUC condemned the rise in zero-hours contracts as "a nightmare for workers". | |
| TUC research found that average weekly earnings for zero-hours workers were £188, compared with £479 for permanent employees. |