The number of people on zero hour contracts in the UK has reached record levels, according to new research. The findings underscore the scale of the challenge that employers in Britain will face when new rights for those on zero- and low-hour contracts take effect in 2027, an employment law expert has said.

publication of the research by the Work Foundation at Lancaster University, a think tank aimed at improving working life. It revealed that the number of people on zero‑hour contracts in the UK has reached a record 1.23 million. The research, based on ONS data, indicates that this number has increased by 91,000 over the past year and by 181,000 since July 2024, when the current UK government came into office.

According to the research, the growth is driven by younger workers aged 16 to 24, who are five times more likely to work on zero‑hour contracts than older workers, as well as individuals who are not in full‑time education. Women are 1.2 times more likely than men to work on zero‑hour contracts.

In 2027, the Employment Rights Act (ERA) will introduce new rights for zero‑hour and low‑hour workers, including rights to reasonable notice of shifts, payments for shifts cancelled, moved or curtailed at short notice, and a right to guaranteed minimum hours. These rights will also extend to agency workers.

McMorrow said that, for employers preparing for the impact of the ERA’s provisions, the findings illustrate the scale of the challenge.

According to the research, nine in...

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