More specifically, this project incorporates insights and results from four empirical cases to contribute to a furthered understanding of the similarities and differences when it comes to various forms of employment.

In addition, the project seeks to illustrate how employment types, perceptions of job insecurity, and work environment factors relate to work-related and health-related outcomes. Mechanisms that may explain these relationships are of the utmost interest.

Why is it important to investigate various types of employment contracts and job insecurity?

While standard employment contracts and permanent, full-time positions are still commonplace, contracts that deviate from the standard are increasingly becoming more prominent. Some examples include hourly-basis, on-call, temporary, and project-based contracts as well as employment through temporary agencies, self-employment, and permanent, part-time employment. Different terms can be used to describe the various contracts, such as “fixed-term”, “flexible”, “atypical”, and “precarious” employment, some of which have positive connotations, while other terms are perceived more negatively.  

The new ways of working imply varying degrees of certainty about the future and can be characterized by different work environment factors and working conditions. Likewise, different employment arrangements can have an impact on the possibilities an individual has for establishing themselves in the labor market, but also for career development as well as for continuity and predictability regarding the future. 

This project focuses on experiences of insecurity regarding an individual’s employment, work, career, and economic situation. It is crucial to study both similarities and differences between different contractual arrangements with varying qualifications and educational requirements in different sectors in order to increase the understanding of how contract type, perceived job insecurity, and work environment factors contribute to various work-related and health-related outcomes. 

What are the long-term goals of this project?

The project will contribute to the long-term development of knowledge and awareness surrounding employment contracts, perceptions of job insecurity, and working conditions as well as their significance for individuals, organizations, and society at large. Through a systematic compilation of knowledge and integration of results from the program’s various empirical projects, it is expected that insights gained will contribute to the advancement of working conditions for a sustainable working life, and will be applied in every day working life.

 

Contact

Magnus Sverke

Professor of Work and Organizational Psychology

magnus.sverke@psychology.su.se

08-16 14 19

See profile page for Magnus Sverke

• Visiting address
• Albanovägen 12