Number of UK workers on zero-hours contracts falls

Between April and June 2017, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said that 883,000 people were on contracts that do not guarantee work.

This is 2.2% lower than the figure from the same period in 2016.

However, the proportion of the British workforce on zero-hours contracts (ZHCs) remained broadly flat at 2.8%.

There has been a backlash against ZHCs in the last few years, with some firms having been accused of exploiting workers by using them.

However, many say they provide flexibility to people who do not want to commit to a fixed number of hours. The contracts have also been credited with helping the UK achieve record levels of employment.

The number of people on ZHCs reached record levels last year, but the rate of growth has been slowing, as competition for workers has increased.

Experts say businesses are also more reluctant to use ZHCs for fear of damage to their reputations.

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