Job insecurity among young adults continues to grow

A research by the Centre for Demographic Studies (CED) of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), conducted by researchers Mariona Lozano and Elisenda Rentería and entitled “L’imparable augment dels anys en precarietat laboral dels adults joves a Espanya 1987-2017" [The Unstoppable Growth of Precarious Employment Among Young Adults in Spain 1987-2017] and which today is published in the journal Perspectives Demogràfiques demonstrates that, since 1987, the years spent in precarious employment for those aged 30 to 39 have continued to grow, especially among women.

Now that a decade has passed since the economic crisis hit in 2008, the years young adults spend as precarious workers continues to grow. The first generation under study, born in 1957, spent half the number of years under unstable work conditions than the generation born in 1978.

This is the first time researchers calculate the number of precarious years in Spain. The study conducted by the CED-UAB compares 22 generations from 1987 to 2017. The evolution of unemployment rates and precariousness (temporary contracts, unsatisfactory work hours, etc.) for men and women according to their year of birth were studied, and the active working years in unstable working conditions were estimated. The data was obtained from the registries of the National Statistics Institute (INE) and the Active Population Survey (EPA).

Researchers observed that unemployment has tended to fluctuate according to economic cycles. However, the rates of precariousness have continued to growth throughout the years, and at the start of any economic crisis, precarious workers have been the first to be kicked out of the market.

In 1993, and especially in 2008, unemployment rates peaked for both men and women (although men were affected to a greater extent). The highest rate ever for the generation born in 1978 was reached in 2013 at 26%. Later, unemployment rates fell slightly, and the youngest generations reached levels of 10% for men and 15% for women, still far from pre-crisis rates.

Employment insecurity and temporality has doubled in the past 30 years and the number of years living in precarious employment conditions were calculated. The duration is relevant since it is not the same to spend one year with unstable job conditions than five or ten.

And so, men born in 1957 spent one of their active working years in precarious conditions when they were 30 to 39 years old, compared to two years among those born in 1978. Long periods of job insecurity suffered by young adults makes it more difficult to transition into adult life and postpones their emancipation, the ability to be independent economically, finding a partner, getting married and having children.

Figures among women are even higher, going from 1.5 to 2.6 years. Those born in 1978 spent almost half of their working lives from 30 to 39 in precarious employment conditions. Those born after 1972 are the ones most affected by this precarious situation.

A growth in the gender gap was observed in these generations as well. The one year gap from those born in 1957 grew to almost two years among those born in 1978. Therefore, in the 30 to 39 age range, women from 1978 lived two more years of precariousness than did men.

For researchers Mariona Lozano and Elisenda Renteria, “the increase in precariousness, especially at these ages, is a waste of resources in a country such as Spain, with progressive ageing, and it cannot be allowed either in terms of contributions, frustrated fertility or social risks”.

In addition, one of the most relevant results show that although men can benefit from a higher level of education to diminish possibilities of precariousness, women cannot. There seems to be no protection for them regardless of their education level.

In conclusion, the study points to the need to reduce employment precariousness among young adults, especially women, given that "this is the best policy to contrast the increase in infertility, and the negative impact progressive ageing has on the state of welfare", the CED-UAB study shows.