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
At Work article
At Work article

Institute scientists define and track precarious employment in Canada

Dr. Emile Tompa talks about how precarious employment can affect workers' health and well-being
Published: February 2006