Sociologists explain zero-hours contracts in different ways. Marxists argue that they are part of precarious capitalism because employers gain flexibility while workers carry the risk of irregular hours, unstable income and limited bargaining power. Weberian sociologists would link zero-hours contracts to market situation and life chances: workers with fewer qualifications, weaker employment security or less economic power may have fewer choices in the labour market. Feminists focus on gendered flexible labour, arguing that women may be over-represented in insecure work because of caring responsibilities, part-time employment patterns and gendered sectors such as care, hospitality and retail. Public analysis of ONS zero-hours data has reported that young workers aged 16–24 are much more likely to be on zero-hours contracts than older workers, and that women make up a slightly larger share of zero-hours workers than men.
Download the data sheet for classroom use here:
This activity helps students analyse zero-hours contracts as an example of researching social inequalities. Students use a stacked bar chart and data table based on the ONS EMP17 dataset, which covers people in employment on zero-hours contracts by age, sex and region using Labour Force Survey data. The activity asks students to identify patterns, evaluate official statistics, choose a follow-up method and connect the evidence to class, age and gender inequality. This fits OCR Component 02 because students need to apply research methods to social inequalities and consider evidence about work, employment and life chances. The ONS dataset is published quarterly and is described as official statistics in development.
Zero-Hours Contracts by Age and Gender
Use the chart and data table to investigate insecure work. Your job is to identify the pattern, evaluate the data and decide which follow-up method would help sociologists understand the lived experience behind the numbers.
Stacked bar chart: who is represented in zero-hours contract work?
The first bar shows the approximate age profile of zero-hours contract workers. The second shows the approximate sex profile. ONS uses the category “sex”; this activity asks you to think sociologically about gendered labour market patterns.
41.3%
58.7%
54%
46%
Risk rate comparison: percentage of workers in each age group on zero-hours contracts
Source note: Adapted for classroom use from ONS EMP17, “People in employment on zero-hours contracts”, and public analysis of ONS zero-hours data. View the ONS EMP17 dataset.
Data table for students to analyse
| Indicator | Group | Approximate value used in this activity | What students should notice | Methods issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of zero-hours contract workers | Aged 16–24 | 41.3% | Young workers make up a large share of people on zero-hours contracts. | Useful for identifying patterns, but does not explain why young workers are over-represented. |
| Share of zero-hours contract workers | Aged 25+ | 58.7% | Most zero-hours workers are not young, so insecurity is also an adult labour market issue. | Broad age categories may hide differences between parents, older workers, students and carers. |
| Risk rate among workers | Aged 16–24 | 12.5% | Young workers are much more likely than older workers to be on zero-hours contracts. | A percentage helps compare groups of different sizes. |
| Risk rate among workers | Aged 25+ | 2.44% | Zero-hours contracts are less common among older workers, but still affect many people. | Official data may not capture feelings of insecurity, stress or lack of control. |
| Share of zero-hours contract workers | Women | 54% | Women form a slightly larger share of zero-hours contract workers. | ONS sex categories can be useful, but gendered experiences need qualitative follow-up. |
| Share of zero-hours contract workers | Men | 46% | Men are also strongly represented, so zero-hours work is not only a women’s issue. | Further research could explore occupation, sector, class and household responsibilities. |
Student tasks
1. Which group appears most likely to be on zero-hours contracts?
2. What is the strongest methods evaluation of this official data?
3. Which follow-up method would be best for exploring how insecurity feels to workers?
4. Which sociological explanation is most directly linked to exploitation and precarious labour?
Write your own analysis
Use the graph and table to write 3–4 sentences explaining how zero-hours contracts may affect life chances. Try to include one theory and one methods evaluation point.
Follow-up method chooser
After using official statistics, sociologists often need another method to add depth. Compare the options below.
Interviews
Best for: lived experience, feelings of insecurity, meanings and verstehen.
Limitation: smaller samples may make findings harder to generalise.
Questionnaires
Best for: collecting comparable data from a larger number of workers.
Limitation: closed questions may miss detail and emotional impact.
Ethnography
Best for: observing workplace culture, management control and informal pressure.
Limitation: access may be difficult and findings may be less representative.
For more content on Researching Social Inequalities for Cambridge OCR A Level Sociology click the link below:
Researching Social Inequalities
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