atypical-precarious employment and loose labour market attachment
The project examines atypical-precarious employment and loose labour market attachment in Switzerland. It analyses prevalence, trends, transitions and risk groups using national labour market data between 2010 and 2023.
Factsheet
- Schools involved School of Social Work
- Institute(s) Institute for Social Security and Social Policy
- Funding organisation Others
- Duration (planned) 15.07.2024 - 31.03.2025
- Head of project Prof. Dr. Oliver Hümbelin
- Project staff Dr. Maurizio Strazzeri
- Partner Bundesamt für Sozialversicherungen
- Keywords Atypical-precarious, Labour market, Poverty, Unemployment, Monitoring
Situation
In Switzerland, atypical-precarious employment is a relevant yet under-researched phenomenon. Fixed-term and insecure jobs, low wages, and a lack of social protection particularly affect young people, women, and those with low education levels. At the same time, the number of unemployed and the so-called hidden reserve – people who could work but are not actively seeking – is growing. Despite its societal importance, only limited systematic analyses exist that capture prevalence, trends over time, and transitions between labour market statuses. As a result, policymakers and practitioners lack a sound empirical basis for identifying risks and developing targeted measures.
Course of action
The project is based on data from the Swiss Labour Force Survey (SLFS) and the SILC survey covering 2010–2023. Atypical-precarious employment is operationalised through criteria such as contract type, underemployment, unpaid overtime, and wage levels. Additionally, loose labour market attachment, such as long-term unemployment and the hidden reserve, is measured. Time series analyses examine developments by sector, gender, and household type. Transitions between labour market statuses are analysed using transition matrices, making persistence and mobility visible. The methodological approach combines descriptive statistics, duration analyses, and socio-demographic breakdowns to identify risk groups and structural barriers. Findings provide an empirical basis for poverty monitoring and policy interventions.
Result
The analyses show that around 110,000 people are in atypical-precarious employment, particularly in sectors such as agriculture, hospitality, and private households. In total, almost one million people are in atypical employment. Loose labour market attachment includes about 200,000 unemployed and 180,000 in the hidden reserve. While standard employment is highly stable, atypical-precarious jobs are characterised by frequent transitions: shifts into regular jobs are almost as common as staying in the same status. Over time, underemployment increased until 2020, while unpaid overtime declined. Overall, the share of atypical-precarious employment remained relatively constant.
Looking ahead
The study was commissioned by the Federal Social Insurance Office for the purpose of the national poverty monitoring. In the future, findings can be regularly updated and linked with other poverty indicators. The project thus contributes to detecting developments at an early stage, making social risks visible, and supporting evidence-based decision-making in policy and practice.
