Work beyond pay: Exploring unpaid labour among UK workers

About the study

In early 2025, NatCen carried out a survey on behalf of KU Leuven University to explore the unpaid work people undertake alongside their paid employment, why they undertake it and their attitudes towards it.

The UK study is part of a wider cross-national research programme funded by the European Research Council (ERC), which also covers France, Sweden and the Netherlands. Data from the four countries are brought together through ResPecTMe & ReSTLess programmes, coordinated by KU Leuven University.

The main aim of the cross-national project is to collect data that improve understanding of work performed as part of paid employment but not fully recognised or remunerated. By making these data available to the research community, the project supports further research, expands knowledge in this area and informs policy discussions and decision-making.

Unpaid labour is defined in this study as the uncompensated time, material costs and emotional effort invested in work-related activities. It includes additional working time and job-related tasks completed outside paid hours, the use of personal money or resources for work, and less visible contributions such as emotional and intellectual effort.

The UK study focused on adults aged 18 or over who undertook at least one hour of paid work in the seven days before completing the survey. The survey covered the following topics:

• Paid and unpaid working hours
• Tasks and expenses associated with participants’ main jobs
• Reasons for undertaking unpaid work
• The benefits and pressures associated with unpaid work
• Job quality, security and career opportunities
• Working patterns, flexibility and control
• Work-life balance, income and wellbeing

Methodology

Sample

The study used the NatCen Panel – a random-probability panel of people recruited from high-quality random probability studies such as the British Social Attitudes survey. For this study, all UK adults 18+ were eligible to take part.

Response rate

Out of 4,975 panellists invited to take part, 2,681 completed the survey, yielding a 57% survey response rate.

Target population incidence rate

Of those who completed the survey, 1,876 (70%) were in the target population: UK adults aged 18 or over who had carried out at least one hour of paid work in the seven days before completing the survey. This group was routed to the main survey. The remaining 805 participants were screened out because they were not eligible for the study.

Fieldwork period

Data collection took place between 16th January and 16th February 2025.

Mode of data collection

Data were collected using a sequential mixed mode design (web and telephone). Of the 2,681 participants, 2,569 took part online and 112 took part by telephone.

Weighting

The data were weighted to be representative of the UK adults aged 18 or over in paid employment. This population was defined as adults who had undertaken at least one hour of paid work in the seven days preceding the survey.

Survey flow

The survey began with questions about unpaid work, including why people in paid work undertake it and the benefits or pressures they associate with it. Participants were then asked about job quality, recognition, pay, career prospects and job security. The survey also covered emotional demands at work, such as tiredness, enthusiasm and the need to manage or hide feelings. Finally, it asked how workers feel society views their occupation and about their wellbeing during the week preceding the survey.