casualization

Casualization refers to the increasing use of casual, temporary, or contract-based employment arrangements relative to standard permanent full-time jobs. It describes a shift in the structure of the workforce in which employers rely more on non-permanent staff to perform ongoing work that previously would have been done by permanent employees. The term is often used to capture trends in labor markets, employer practices, and policy environments rather than a single statutory category.

Casualized work arrangements typically involve irregular or short-notice scheduling, limited or no access to employer-provided benefits, and reduced job security and career progression. They may exist alongside part-time roles or as substitute labor for full-time positions. Distinctions are made between casual or temporary workers and independent contractors, who may face different regulatory and tax implications. The phenomenon is observed across sectors such as hospitality, retail, healthcare, and administrative services, and it is influenced by broader economic cycles, globalization, outsourcing, automation, scheduling software, and policies that promote labor-market flexibility.

Impacts of casualization are debated. Proponents argue that flexible staffing helps match labor supply to demand, supports efficiency, and enables firms to scale operations. Critics point to income volatility, reduced access to benefits and protections, weaker bargaining power, and potential long-term effects on career development and social safety nets. The presence of casualization can also affect unions, wage dynamics, and labor standards, prompting policy discussions about portable benefits, minimum engagement terms, and stronger enforcement of equal treatment for workers in similar roles. Measurements vary by country, but the share of workers in non-permanent arrangements remains a key indicator of labor-market structure.