1. Selected topics

Work precarity and vulnerability

“Precarious” is a word often used to describe work that is characterized by low pay, low job security and little protection. “Vulnerable” is a word often used in the health and safety world to describe those who are at an increased risk of work injury or disease. At the Institute for Work & Health (IWH), an evidence-based framework has been developed that defines OHS vulnerability as being exposed to hazards without having adequate protection. This page pulls together research on OHS vulnerability and work precarity.

Featured

IWH Speaker Series

Good jobs, bad jobs, and ‘deaths of despair’

Published: April 22, 2025
A man sits on a dimly lit staircase.
At Work article

Precarious jobs linked to suicide, drug poisoning, and alcohol-related deaths: IWH study

An IWH study investigated whether job quality—measured in terms of employment stability, hours and wages—is linked to suicide, drug poisoning, and alcohol-attributable mortality.
Published: April 15, 2025
Journal article
Journal article

Job quality and precarious employment among lesbian, gay, and bisexual workers: a national study

Published: SSM - Population Health, December 2023
Overhead view of two people in safety helmets walking up the stairs in a plant
At Work article

IWH tool comes out ahead in Australian study of OHS leading indicator tools

In an Australian study of five health and safety leading indicator tools around the world, a measure developed by IWH has come out ahead for its ability to pick up workers’ risk of reporting a physical injury or a near miss at work.
Published: February 2023
A worker bends over, cutting paving stones in a landscaping job
At Work article

Inadequate employment standards, OHS vulnerability add to higher injury risks

IWH researchers found workers whose jobs fail to offer minimum employment standards are at an increased risk of work injury. When these workers also face health and safety vulnerability on the job, their risk of injury is even higher than the combined risk.
Published: August 2021
View from the back of a man in a suit in an urban street
At Work article

Unemployment benefits linked to lower mortality rates over 10 years: IWH study

We know that being out of work puts people at risk of short- and long-term health consequences—including higher death rates. A new study looks at whether—and how much—having income support during unemployment can lessen the negative impact.
Published: June 2021
female factory worker sitting on floor with tools, looking worried about what to do
At Work article

Weaker OHS procedures, policies explain small employers’ higher injury risks: study

Workers at small firms are more exposed to hazards and report more work-related injuries and illnesses. But an IWH study finds injury risks in large and small firms even out when weaker OHS policies at small firms are accounted for.
Published: May 2021
Project
Project

Transitioning to the future of work: an intersectional study of vulnerable youth and young adults

This project applies an intersectional theoretical framework to explore the impact of the future of work on the transitional work experiences of vulnerable groups of young people—including women, visible minorities, immigrants, LGBTQ2+, and those with low socioeconomic status—and to uncover the overlapping structures that contribute to labour market inequities for different groups.
Status: Completed
A woman works at a laundry service
Research Highlights

Is precarious work more prevalent for people with disabilities? The role of age and job tenure

Workers with disabilities are no more likely than those without to work in precarious jobs. However, some subsets of people with disabilities are more likely to work in precarious jobs—older people or people with shorter job tenure. Contrary to expectation, younger people with disabilities are not more likely than older people with disabilities to have precarious jobs. Among people with and without disabilities, having better health is linked to a lower likelihood of working in precarious jobs.
Published: February 2021
Journal article
Journal article

The working disadvantaged: the role of age, job tenure and disability in precarious work

Published: BMC Public Health, December 2020
A woman with a bandaged left arm fills out injury claim form
At Work article

Workers exposed to common hazards more likely to report their injuries: IWH study

Building upon research showing high rates of under-reporting, an IWH study explores factors linked to whether workers report their injuries to a workers' compensation board.
Published: August 2020
A young man behind the wheel of a car checks his smartphone
Research Highlights

Exploring the health and safety risks facing ride-share drivers

Ride-share drivers face physical and mental health risks that are not only similar to, but also distinct from, those of taxi drivers. Beyond the risks experienced by taxi drivers, ride-share drivers face stressors unique to this form of work.
Published: March 2020