ONS: Almost 700,000 people on zero-hours contracts in Q4 2014
25 February 2015
The number of people employed on zero-hours contracts increased to almost 700,000 in the final quarter of last year, according to latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures.
Wed, 25 Feb 2015The number of people employed on zero-hours contracts increased to almost 700,000 in the final quarter of last year, according to latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures.
The figures, released this morning [25 February], show there were 697,000 people employed on zero-hours contracts for their main job for the quarter October to December 2014. That represents 2.3% of all people in employment, an increase from 1.9% for the same period in 2013.
The figures did, however, come with a caveat. An ONS statement said: “The number of people saying they are employed on zero-hours contracts depends on whether or not they recognise this term. It is not possible to say how much of the increase between 2013 and 2014 is due to greater recognition rather than new contracts.”
The statement also said a person employed on a zero-hours contract working an average of 25 hours a week was more likely to be a woman, in full-time education, or working part time, and aged under 25 or 65 and over.
It continued to say more than half of employers in accommodation and food services and a quarter of employers in education made use of zero-hours contracts in August 2014.
In total, UK firms used 1.8m such contracts for the fortnight beginning 11 August 2014.
Zero-hours contracts do not guarantee a minimum number of hours.
The figures, released this morning [25 February], show there were 697,000 people employed on zero-hours contracts for their main job for the quarter October to December 2014. That represents 2.3% of all people in employment, an increase from 1.9% for the same period in 2013.
The figures did, however, come with a caveat. An ONS statement said: “The number of people saying they are employed on zero-hours contracts depends on whether or not they recognise this term. It is not possible to say how much of the increase between 2013 and 2014 is due to greater recognition rather than new contracts.”
The statement also said a person employed on a zero-hours contract working an average of 25 hours a week was more likely to be a woman, in full-time education, or working part time, and aged under 25 or 65 and over.
It continued to say more than half of employers in accommodation and food services and a quarter of employers in education made use of zero-hours contracts in August 2014.
In total, UK firms used 1.8m such contracts for the fortnight beginning 11 August 2014.
Zero-hours contracts do not guarantee a minimum number of hours.
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