women outnumber men amongst public sector zero hours workers

By Pravin Jeyaraj

​There are significantly more women than men stuck on zero hours contracts in the public sector, according to research published by Zero Hours Justice.

Over the past 12 months, we have sent our Freedom of Information requests to all universities, local authorities and NHS trusts and organisations. Out of 798 organisations contacted, 749 responded, a response rate of 94%.

​Universities

​Category​	Number of organisations
More men than women	24
More women than men	47
No zero hours contracts or data not available	69

There are, on average, almost twice as many female zero hours workers, compared to male zero hours workers, in the 71 universities that use zero hour contracts. Some universities have three and four times as many women on zero hours contracts than men.  

​Local authorities

Category	Number of organisations
More men than women	​78
More women than men	144
No zero hours contracts or data not available	172

There are, on average, two and a half times as many female zero hours workers, compared to male zero hours workers, in the 222 local authorities across the UK that use zero hour contracts. Some local authorities have three and four times as many women on zero hours contracts than men.  Some local authorities have between six and ten times as many women on zero hours contracts than men. One local authority (North Hertfordshire District Council) even has 18 times as many women on zero hours contracts compared to men.

​NHS organisations

Category	Number of organisations
More men than women	33
More women than men	129
No zero hours contracts or data not available	90

There are, on average, more than three times as many female zero hours workers, compared to male zero hours workers, in the 142 NHs organisations across the UK that use zero hour contracts. Most organisations have between two and ten times as many women on zero hours contracts than men.