‘Flexible’ Labour: Some Policy Perspectives

Drawing on publicly available statistics and data on employment structures, hours and labour utilisation practices from detailed company case‐studies in the retail and catering sectors, this paper considers the implications for labour markets of the rise in part‐time, temporary and casual working (variously described as ‘flexible’ labour). Throughout the paper, emphasis will be given to part‐time employment and temporary and casual working in their own right, not simply in relation to full‐time work.