Estimating the scale of labour market non-compliance experienced by precarious workers: Lessons from survey development

• In Event: Measuring prevalence of precarious work and labour market exploitation – from lower-level abuses to human trafficking

Abstract

In this paper, we present on the design and development of a major new survey into labour market non-compliance and associated work-based harm, as experienced by precarious workers in the UK. This survey is the cornerstone of a broader integrated mixed-methods study into the scale and nature of labour market non-compliance among precarious workers, which includes in-depth interviews with workers and focus groups with workers and employers. In this presentation, we present key stages and lessons from the first 15 months of the project, including an in-depth scoping of the complex legal landscape, survey conceptualisation, operationalisation and question testing. We also explain how the work has been underpinned by extensive consultation with six complementary stakeholder groups: people in precarious work, legal experts, labour abuse academics, policy-makers, employers and worker representatives. The survey will be fielded through KANTAR as an Associated Study to the Understanding Society Survey. Here, rather than focusing on survey results, we concentrate on crucial preparatory stages, reflecting on key challenges encountered, decisions made and lessons for future work of this nature, be it into labour market abuse or survey research into other complex and under-studied social phenomena. This research was commissioned by the Director of Labour Market Enforcement and is co-funded by the Economic and Social Research Council and the Department for Business and Trade.

Authors

• Ella Cockbain, UCL

• Krisztián Pósch, University College London

• Sam Scott, University of Gloucestershire

• Jack Beadsworth, UCL

• Virginia Mantouvalou, UCL

• Ben Bradford, University College London