Living at the edge? Connecting work insecurity and housing risk among service workers in Oslo

The lower end of the labour service market is often described as a fragmented and insecure section of the economy. The article extends previous research by determining whether labour market insecurity increases perceived threats to the security and affordability of housing. The research draws upon the results of a survey conducted in Oslo of workers in low-paid service occupations. The analyses confirm distinct associations between labour market insecurity and self-reported housing risk. The results further show that perceived insecurity is heightened among three groups, namely non-Westerners, people on low incomes, and housing tenants. When the findings are considered as a whole, a picture emerges of risk cutting into the fringes of the political-economic system.