people working night shifts in the West Midlands up by 22,000

New analysis published by the TUC 31 October 2016, shows that the number of people who work night shifts in the West Midlands increased by 22,000 (9%) between 2011 and 2016 to 267,000.

One in eight employees in the region is now regularly doing night work.

 

Women are fuelling the growth in night work.

Women account for all (100%) of the growth in night-working over the past five years.

Between 2011 and 2016 the number of women regularly doing night work in the West Midlands increased by 28,000, while for men it fell by 6,000.

However, there are still more men employees (one in seven) working nights than women (one in ten).

 

Care work is the most common form of night work

The most common profession for night-workers in the West Midlands by some distance is care work (34,000), followed by nursing and midwifery (19,000) and protective service jobs (15,000).

 

People in the mid-40s are most likely to be night-workers

Across the UK, the age group with the highest proportion of night-workers is 45-49. They account for one in 8 of those who usually work nights.

Male night-workers are most likely to be aged between 45–49. However, the most common age group for women night-workers is 25–29. 

Commenting on the analysis, TUC Regional Secretary Lee Barron said:

“Tonight most of us can look forward to an extra hour in bed. But as we sleep, tens of thousands of workers will be busy keeping the West Midlands ticking over.

“Whether its nurses looking after patients, or police officers keeping our streets safe, we all depend on the region’s army of night-workers.

“Night work is hard and can disrupt family life. So we must show our appreciation for the sacrifices night workers make by ensuring they have good rights and protections at work.

“Employers must play fair and play safe, or public safety will be put at risk and the families of night workers will suffer.”

 

The work-life balance impacts of night-working

The negative health impacts of night work are already well-documented, such as heightened risks of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and depression. However, less attention has been given to the impacts on home life and relationships.

The TUC does not oppose night working, but argues that employers must properly consider and address its impact on staff. Decisions to extend night working should always involve talks with unions.

 

Fairness and safety for night-workers

The TUC recommends that:

• Employers and unions should ensure that night working is only introduced where necessary;
• Where night working is introduced into a workplace, no existing workers should be forced to work nights;
• Shift patterns should be negotiated between unions and employers;
• Workers should have some element of control over their rotas, so that they can ensure that the shifts they work are best suited to their individual circumstances;
• Workers should always have sufficient notice of their shift patterns so they can make arrangements well in advance. Changes at short notice should be avoided;
• The remuneration paid to those working nights should properly reflect the likely additional costs of childcare and inconvenience that night shifts can entail.

 

Night-working by region/nation

Region/nation	2011	2016	Growth 2011-2016	% change 2011-2016	% of all employees working nights 2016
North East	152,600	142,997	-9,603	-6.3%	13.8%
North West	337,791	354,735	16,944	5.0%	12.5%
Yorkshire and Humberside	245,592	257,689	12,097	4.9%	12.7%
East Midlands	209,913	237,082	27,168	12.9%	12%
West Midlands	244,894	267,451	22,556	9.2%	11.8%
East of England	266,283	250,526	-15,756	-5.9%	9.4%
London	323,519	421,459	97,940	30.3%	11.9%
South East	355,939	391,501	35,561	10.0%	10.6%
South West	213,969	264,030	50,061	23.4%	11.7%
Wales	137,454	177,782	40,327	29.3%	14.5%
Scotland	309,201	270,036	-39,164	-12.7%	11.9%
Northern Ireland	63, 126	99,572	36,446	57.7%	11.4%
Total	2,860,286	313,4866	274,580	9.6%	11.8%

 Source: Labour Force Survey

 

Increase in male and female night-working in the West Midlands

	Total  2016	Total 2011	% of all usually work nights	Increase 2011-2016	% increase 2011-2016
	267,452	244,895		22,557	9%
Men	161,118	167,541	13.4	-6,424	-3%
Women	106,334	77,354	10.0	28,981	12%

Source: Labour force survey

 

Top five most common professions for night-workers in the West Midlands

Occupation	Total number  2016	% of all usually work nights 2016
Caring Personal Services’	34,828	13%
Nursing and Midwifery Professionals’	19,148	7%
Protective Service Occupations’	15,665	6%
Process Operatives’	14,852	6%
Other Elementary Services Occupations’	14,085	5%

Source: Labour force survey