In the first qualitative report, we explore the lived experiences of underemployed workers. Our findings show underemployment is a complex issue for working people: working hours, pay, and skill usage were connected, and most people were underemployed in more than one area.
We have spoken with 60 underemployed workers to explore their lived experience of underemployment within and outwith work. The underemployed individuals were recruited in four UK cities (Bristol, Glasgow, Greater Manchester and Nottingham), mainly via community and public sector networks, but also via a recruitment agency. All participants worked in one of the three sectors where underemployment is most common: health and social care (29), hospitality (14), or retail and wholesale (17). The participants were at different stages of their working lives (aged from 21-67), most were women (40), with 19 men and one non-binary person taking part.
The causes of underemployment ranged across the dimensions and people’s experiences, including care responsibilities, health, job availability, lack of career progression opportunities and support. Additionally, many people were making decisions and adjustments in their working lives to reflect changes outside of work.
The impacts of underemployment were far reaching, with people’s financial resilience, health and wellbeing, confidence, and how people engaged with work impacted.
This report focuses on our first interviews with participants. Over the three years of the project, we will speak with them four times. Future findings will reflect on how people’s lives changed over time.
Read the full report here: First Qualitative Findings Report