Growing labour insecurity in Australia and the UK in the midst of job growth: Beware the Anglo-Saxon model

This article compares trends and issues affecting labour security in the UK and Australia, using an adaptation of Standing's 1997 typology. The increased polarization and variability of hours worked, declining union densities and increased wage inequality provide evidence of growing labour insecurity in both countries. This represents the reciprocal impact of increased employer dominance in the workplace and government pursuit of labour flexibility. Growing labour insecurity casts doubts on the supposed benefits for EU economies of the Anglo-Saxon model of deregulated labour markets. The last part of the article considers measures to counter increased insecurity.