date: Thursday 27 October 2016
embargo: 00.01hrs Saturday 29 October 2016
As the clocks go back to mark the beginning of British Winter time, the TUC is today (Saturday) urging people to spare a thought for the millions of UK workers who regularly work through the night.
New analysis published by the TUC shows that the number of people who work night shifts increased by 275,000 (9%) between 2011 and 2016 to 3,135,000.
Britain’s large army of night-workers now accounts for one in eight (12%) employees.
Women are fuelling the growth in night work
It used to be that most night-workers were men working in manufacturing plants but this has changed drastically. In 2016 one in seven male employees (14%) were night-workers, compared to one in 11 (9%) female employees.
However, women account for more than two-thirds (69%) of the growth in night-working over the past five years.
Between 2011 and 2016 the number of women regularly doing night work increased by 190,000, while for men it increased by 86,000.
Clear gender split in night-working
There is a clear gender split in the kind of jobs male and female night-workers do.
The two most common professions for female night-workers are care-working and nursing. The number of women doing night shifts in these professions increased by 15% and 4% respectively over the past five years.
Male night workers are most likely to work in protective service occupations (military, security, policing) and road transport. However, the number of men doing night shifts in these professions fell by 26% and 12% respectively over the past five years.
People in the mid-40s are most likely to be night-workers
Night work can begin as young as 16. More than 80,000 workers aged 16-20 regularly work nights. And there are nearly 150,000 people still working night shifts in their sixties.
But the age group with the highest proportion of night-workers is 45-49. They account for one in 8 of those who usually work nights.
Male night-workers are most likely to be aged between 45–49. However, the most common age group for women night-workers is 25–29.
London has seen the largest growth in night work
London has seen the largest growth in night-workers over the past five years (+98,000), followed by the South West (+50,000) and Wales (+40,000).
The TUC says the introduction of the Night Tube in London, and proposals for a seven-day NHS, are likely to lead to further increases in night work in coming years.
However, across all parts of the UK night-working has increased fastest in Northern Ireland (+58%), followed by London (+30%) and Wales (+29%).
Commenting on the analysis, TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said:
“Tonight most of us can look forward to an extra hour in bed. But as we sleep, millions of workers will be busy keeping the UK ticking over.
“Whether its nurses looking after patients, or police officers keeping our streets safe, we all depend on Britain’s army of night-workers.
“Night work is hard and can disrupt family life. So we must show our appreciation for the sacrifices night-workers make by ensuring they have good rights and protections at work.
“Employers must play fair and play safe, or public safety will be put at risk and the families of night workers will suffer.”
The work-life balance impacts of night-working
The negative health impacts of night work are already well-documented, such as heightened risks of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and depression. However, less attention has been given to the impacts on home life and relationships.
The TUC does not oppose night-working, but argues that employers must properly consider and address its impact on staff. Decisions to extend night working should always involve talks with unions.
Fairness and safety for night-workers
The TUC recommends that:
NOTES TO EDITORS:
Increase in male and female night-working
Sex |
2011 |
2016 |
Growth 2011-2016 |
% change 2011-2016 |
% of all employee working nights 2016 |
Men |
1,809,994 |
1,895,332 |
85,338 |
4.5% |
14.0% |
Women |
1,050,292 |
1,239,534 |
189,243 |
15.3% |
9.4% |
Total |
2,860286 |
3,134,866 |
274,580 |
8.8% |
11.8% |
Source: Labour Force Survey
Top 10 most common occupations for male night-workers
Rank 2011 |
Profession |
Number |
Rank 2016 |
Profession |
Number |
% change 2010 -16 |
1 |
Protective Service Occupations |
130,814 |
1 |
Protective Service Occupations |
103,731 |
-26.11% |
2 |
Road Transport Drivers |
113,846 |
2 |
Road Transport Drivers |
101,726 |
-11.91% |
3 |
Elementary Security Occupations |
76,157 |
3 |
Other Elementary Services Occupations |
81,944 |
7.06% |
4 |
Other Elementary Services Occupations |
75,205 |
4 |
Caring Personal Services |
77,730 |
3.25% |
5 |
Caring Personal Services |
66,237 |
5 |
Elementary Security Occupations |
60,605 |
-9.29% |
6 |
Elementary Storage Occupations |
51,859 |
6 |
Elementary Storage Occupations |
51,613 |
-0.48% |
7 |
Process Operatives |
49,153 |
7 |
Food Preparation and Hospitality Trades |
50,858 |
3.35% |
8 |
Metal Machining, Fitting and Instrument Making Trades |
40,544 |
8 |
Process Operatives |
50,042 |
18.98% |
9 |
Health Professionals |
37,125 |
9 |
Health Professionals |
45,273 |
18.00% |
10 |
Plant and Machine Operatives |
34,600 |
10 |
Metal Machining, Fitting and Instrument Making Trades |
39,381 |
12.14% |
Source: Labour Force Survey
Top 10 most common occupations for women night-workers
Rank 2011 |
Profession |
Number |
Rank 2016 |
Profession |
Number |
% change 2010 - 16 |
1 |
Caring Personal Services |
231,472 |
1 |
Caring Personal Services |
270,811 |
14.53% |
2 |
Nursing and Midwifery Professionals |
169,260 |
2 |
Nursing and Midwifery Professionals |
176,090 |
3.88% |
3 |
Other Elementary Services Occupations |
73,114 |
3 |
Other Elementary Services Occupations |
77,253 |
5.36% |
4 |
Health Professionals |
30,694 |
4 |
Sales Assistants and Retail Cashiers |
39,632 |
22.55% |
5 |
Protective Service Occupations |
29,781 |
5 |
Health Professionals |
38,854 |
23.35% |
6 |
Sales Assistants and Retail Cashiers |
24,427 |
6 |
Teaching and Educational Professionals |
33,663 |
27.44% |
7 |
Leisure and Travel Services |
21,520 |
7 |
Protective Service Occupations |
30,530 |
29.51% |
8 |
Teaching and Educational Professionals |
21,261 |
8 |
Customer Service Occupations |
20,470 |
-3.86% |
9 |
Managers and Proprietors in Hospitality and Leisure Services |
14,550 |
9 |
Leisure and Travel Services |
18,747 |
22.39% |
10 |
Elementary Sales Occupations (porters, waiters and bar staff) |
14,003 |
10 |
Elementary Sales Occupations |
18,552 |
24.52% |
Source: Labour Force Survey
Night-working by age and gender
Age group |
16-19yrs |
20-24yrs |
25-29yrs |
30-34yrs |
35-39yrs |
40-44yrs |
45-49yrs |
50-54yrs |
55-59yrs |
60-64yrs |
65-69yrs |
70 and over |
Number of Men |
41,462 |
193,728 |
238,975 |
212,457 |
209,971 |
237,443 |
240,338 |
232,554 |
167,743 |
77,332 |
33,791 |
9,538 |
Number of Women |
42,922 |
153,105 |
178,494 |
157,077 |
122,251 |
142,043 |
147,523 |
132,842 |
95,953 |
45,057 |
16,019 |
6,249 |
Source: Labour Force Survey
Night-working by region/nation
Region/nation |
2011 |
2016 |
Growth 2011-2016 |
% change 2011-2016 |
% of all employees working nights 2016 |
North East |
152,600 |
142,997 |
-9,603 |
-6.3% |
13.8% |
North West |
337,791 |
354,735 |
16,944 |
5.0% |
12.5% |
Yorkshire and Humberside |
245,592 |
257,689 |
12,097 |
4.9% |
12.7% |
East Midlands |
209,913 |
237,082 |
27,168 |
12.9% |
12% |
West Midlands |
244,894 |
267,451 |
22,556 |
9.2% |
11.8% |
East of England |
266,283 |
250,526 |
-15,756 |
-5.9% |
9.4% |
London |
323,519 |
421,459 |
97,940 |
30.3% |
11.9% |
South East |
355,939 |
391,501 |
35,561 |
10.0% |
10.6% |
South West |
213,969 |
264,030 |
50,061 |
23.4% |
11.7% |
Wales |
137,454 |
177,782 |
40,327 |
29.3% |
14.5% |
Scotland |
309,201 |
270,036 |
-39,164 |
-12.7% |
11.9% |
Northern Ireland |
63, 126 |
99,572 |
36,446 |
57.7% |
11.4% |
Total |
2,860,286 |
313,4866 |
274,580 |
9.6% |
11.8% |
Source: Labour Force Survey
- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk
- Follow the TUC on Twitter: @The_TUC and follow the TUC press team @tucnews
Contacts:
Media enquiries:
Alex Rossiter T: 020 7467 1285 M: 07887 572130 E: arossiter@tuc.org.uk
Tim Nichols T: 020 7467 1388 M: 07808 761844 E: tnichols@tuc.org.uk
Michael Pidgeon T: 020 7467 1372 M: 07717 531150 E: mpidgeon@tuc.org.uk
Elly Gibson (Mon to Thurs) T: 020 7467 1337 M: 07900 910624 E: egibson@tuc.org.uk
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