precarity

Precarity refers to a condition in which individuals face persistent insecurity and uncertainty in their economic and social livelihoods. It encompasses unstable employment, irregular or insufficient income, limited access to social protections, and vulnerability to sudden changes in circumstance such as illness, job loss, or policy shifts. While precarity is often linked to work, it also extends to housing, health care, and social rights, producing a sense of ongoing risk rather than stability.

The term gained prominence in social science and labor studies to describe the expansion of non-standard forms of work, such as temporary contracts, part-time arrangements, and gig work. The concept of the precariat, a social class of people living under precarious conditions, was popularized by economist Guy Standing, who argues that this group shares common experiences of insecurity and marginalization. In philosophy, Giorgio Agamben uses precarity to describe a broader condition of vulnerability within modern politics and biopolitics.

Key mechanisms include globalization, deregulation, outsourcing, automation, and the growth of flexible labor markets. Micro-appointments, freelancing, zero-hours contracts, and agency work create income volatility and limited benefits. In many countries, social protections have not kept pace with labor market changes, leaving workers exposed to shocks even when employed.

Impacts include stress, mental health problems, weaker social ties, and reduced civic participation. Policy responses vary: some advocate stronger social protection, portable benefits, universal health care, affordable housing, and collective bargaining rights; others favor active labor market policies, training, and wage subsidies to reduce risk without undermining flexibility.

Scholarly debates address definitional boundaries, measurement, and the political implications of the term. Critics argue precarity may overstate uniformity, masking diversity of experiences, and that it risks depoliticizing structural issues. Nonetheless, precarity remains a central concept in analyses of work, citizenship, and social justice.