The Activating Welfare State and Precarisation

Gibilisco, Saro; Budowski, Monica; Hadjar, Andreas

doi:10.1177/09500170251361817

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Journal article

The Activating Welfare State and Precarisation : a Temporal Analysis of the Perceived Unemployment Risk in Switzerland, 1999–2019

BP2-STS

Gibilisco, Saro University of Fribourg, Switzerland
Budowski, Monica ORCID University of Fribourg, Switzerland
Hadjar, Andreas ORCID University of Fribourg, Switzerland

2025

Published in:

Work, Employment and Society. - SAGE Publications. - 2025, vol. 39, no. 6, p. 1513-1536

English Existing research predominantly examines precarisation processes within the framework of the welfare state crisis. This study diverges from this conventional practice as it explores precarisation in terms of a product of welfare state intervention. Specifically, the main argument is that welfare state interventions towards individual responsibility and activation centre on precarisation as a governance principle. Through a temporal examination of the perceived risk of unemployment – a key aspect of precarisation in the labour market – utilising data from the Swiss Household Panel spanning 1999 to 2019, the study reveals a growing prevalence of the perceived risk of unemployment within the group of individuals in more privileged employment arrangements, notably stable and full-time contracts. Results suggest that precarisation is diffusing into segments of society considered secure and protected by the welfare state. This seems to be closely linked to the new activation mode of welfare state intervention.

Faculty

Faculté des lettres et des sciences humaines

Department

Département de travail social, politiques sociales et développement global

Language