Living on the margins - Black workers and casualisation

This report highlights how BME workers have been disproportionately affected by the growth in part-time, insecure and low-paid employment.  It illustrates the ways in which changes in working patterns and in the contractual relationship between employer and employees have had a negative effect on BME workers resulting in many living on the margins of the labour market.

The findings outlined in this report are based on an analysis of the Office for National Statistics (ONS) Quarterly Labour Force Survey (LFS).  The case studies and quotes scattered throughout the report are largely drawn from an online survey carried out by the TUC in April/May 2014. This survey received 3,244 responses. The vast majority of respondents were members of trade unions. One in three were employed in temporary work, including agency work, zero-hours contracts or fixed term contracts.  Given the precarious nature of their employment, the identities of the individuals have been anonymised.