jobsecurity

Job security is the likelihood that a worker will retain their current job or avoid involuntary dismissal over a given period. It combines formal protections, such as contracts and laws, with a worker’s perception of stability, and it varies across industries, occupations, and economic conditions.

Factors influencing job security include macroeconomic health and industry demand; the type of employment contract (permanent, fixed-term, or casual); individual skills and performance; organizational health and restructuring; technological change and automation; outsourcing; and labor-market institutions such as unions and employment laws.

Indicators of job security include average tenure, turnover and layoff rates, unemployment trends, and the presence of notice periods or severance. Employers may bolster security through training and internal mobility programs, while workers pursue ongoing skill development to maintain marketability.

Job security affects income stability, financial planning, and long-term commitments such as housing. For employers, it intersects with retention strategies and productivity, while for society it can influence consumption and social stability. Critics emphasize a balance between security and necessary labor-market flexibility.

Recent trends—globalization, automation, and the rise of flexible or gig work—have complicated traditional notions of job security. Policy tools such as unemployment insurance, retraining programs, and active labor markets can support workers, but security remains uneven across regions and sectors.