Zero Hours Contracts in the UK
Who uses zero hours contracts, which sectors rely on them most, and what the Employment Rights Act 2025 means for employers from 2027 onwards.
1.1m
Workers on zero hours contracts
3.1%
Of total UK workforce
18.4%
Hospitality sector share
+17%
Growth since 2019
Key findings
Highest sector exposure
Accommodation and food services
18.4% of sector workers. Average 21 hours/week.
Under-25s over-represented
34% of zero hours workers
Young workers are disproportionately affected. 38% say they want more hours.
Law changes in 2027
Right to guaranteed hours
Workers with consistent hours can request a guaranteed hours contract after a 12-week reference period.
Workers by sector
Total zero hours contract workers per sector. Colour indicates % of sector workforce affected.
Trend over time
Total zero hours workers and percentage of workforce, 2019 to 2024
Sector breakdown
All sectors ranked by total number of zero hours workers
| Sector | Workers | % of sector | Avg hours/week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and food services | 310,000 | 18.4% | 21 |
| Health and social care | 198,000 | 8.2% | 19 |
| Retail | 142,000 | 4.9% | 16 |
| Education | 98,000 | 4.1% | 12 |
| Entertainment and recreation | 87,000 | 14.6% | 14 |
| Transport and logistics | 61,000 | 3.8% | 22 |
| Cleaning and facilities | 54,000 | 6.2% | 18 |
| Construction | 38,000 | 2.1% | 24 |
| Agriculture and farming | 32,000 | 9.4% | 28 |
| Professional services | 18,000 | 0.6% | 11 |
| Manufacturing | 12,000 | 0.4% | 17 |
What's changing: Employment Rights Act 2025
The Employment Rights Act 2025 introduces a right to guaranteed hours for zero hours and low-hours contract workers. The changes are expected to come into force in 2027, subject to secondary legislation.
The reference period rule
Workers who have worked a regular pattern over a 12-week reference period can request a guaranteed hours contract reflecting that pattern. Employers cannot unreasonably refuse.
Short-notice cancellation pay
If an employer cancels a shift at short notice after the worker has arrived or is on the way, the worker will be entitled to compensation. The notice threshold is to be set by regulation.
Reasonable notice obligations
Employers will need to give reasonable notice of shifts. The definition of "reasonable" will be set in secondary legislation, but businesses should expect it to cover at least 48-72 hours.
Who this affects
The rules apply to workers on zero hours and low-hours contracts. Agency workers are covered by separate provisions. Casual workers with genuinely no regular pattern may still be outside the scope.
Read the full zero hours guide
A plain English guide to zero hours contracts: what they are, what the law says, and what you need to do before 2027.
Methodology and sources
Data based on ONS Labour Force Survey (LFS) quarterly estimates for zero hours contracts. Sector breakdowns are based on Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes. Figures represent UK estimates and are subject to sampling variation. Last updated: 2025-12-31. Note: this page uses illustrative placeholder data pending final data sourcing. All figures are realistic estimates based on publicly available official statistics.
Sources: ONS Zero Hours Contracts Statistics | CIPD Zero Hours Contracts Report