Editing The Precariat (section)

== Defining Features ==

The Precariat lacks the stable attributes associated with Fordist industrial employment: long-term contracts, social security, pensions, and collective bargaining rights. Members typically cycle through short-term jobs, part-time work, gig employment, or informal economic activities. This instability extends to their social identity and political voice, producing both economic and existential uncertainty.

Key characteristics include:

* '''Employment insecurity''': Temporary, zero-hours, or gig-based work arrangements.
* '''Income volatility''': Unpredictable earnings and limited access to benefits.
* '''Occupational fragmentation''': Weak attachment to a professional identity or career trajectory.
* '''Social disembeddedness''': Reduced integration into unions, communities, or welfare institutions.
* '''Educational mismatch:''' Often well-educated individuals performing low-skill or underpaid work.