The number of young workers on zero-hours contracts has reached a new record high, according to a study from The Work Foundation thinktank.

Women are among the groups of UK workers who are most likely to be affected by underemployment, according to research from the Underemployment Project, a sociological investigation of underemployment.

Research found 61% of workers are unaware of the rights of people on zero-hours contracts, according to workplace arbitration body Acas.

The number of over-65s in the workforce has risen by almost a million people since the turn of the millennium, according to new analysis from charity the Centre for Ageing Better.

Angela Rayner, deputy leader of the Labour Party, promised to ban zero-hours contracts if Labour comes into power at the next election.

A private member’s bill giving workers the legal right to request a predictable working pattern has found cross-party support in the House of Commons.

Workers on zero-hours contracts think the benefits outweigh the negatives, despite calls for them to be banned by campaign groups.

Young people have swiftly returned to work since losing jobs in the pandemic, but many have had unequal opportunities when coming back to the workforce – or have fallen out of it altogether.