The Little Blue Book

Results from the 2016 Australian Census shows that 30.4% of Australian workers are in part-time work. Among younger workers, in particular, the notion of a long-term relationship with an employer is rapidly becoming a thing of the past. Of course, flexibility and ‘portability’ – of skills, experience and entitlements – is part of this picture. But, for younger workers, and for others in the so-called ‘gig economy’, casual, part-time and contract work is increasingly becoming the new normal. However, while a flexible labour market may present prima facie benefits for business, and assist in keeping labour costs down, it has adverse mental health outcomes for many in casual, contract and part- time work. In fact, job insecurity – that is, the threat of job loss, inconsistent hours and uncertainty regarding future employment – is a major contributor to anxiety and depression; worse, in fact, for psychological health than high job strain. 1 Job insecurity has also been shown to pose “a comparable threat to health” as unemployment. 2 For Australian workers, those experiencing high job insecurity are four times as likely to suffer from depression as those in secure employment. Further, that 24% will suffer from anxiety, and 25% from poor physical health. 3 JOB SECURITY “The flexibility to be around when your daughter is sick – absolutely [that’s good]. But that is not a benefit of working for [a company like] Uber; that is a benefit of working for a good company.” Joanna Wilde, Psychologist. 5 COVID-19: The Challenge 40