Labour market insecurity and parental co-residence in the United Kingdom

Heterogeneities by parental class and age

Bibliographic Data

ID8131467
AuthorsVincent Jerald Ramos (0000-0002-9709-4183, University of Southampton, corresponding author), Ann Berrington (0000-0002-1683-6668, University of Southampton)
Year2026
Publication date2026-01-09
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueEuropean Sociological Review (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0266-7215 • E-ISSN: 1468-2672
PublisherOxford University Press (OUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1093/esr/jcaf058
OpenAlexW7119734578
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited63

Amidst young adults’ increasing labour market insecurity and rates of parental co-residence, this article examines how unemployment and underexplored forms of non-standard employment (NSE)—underemployment and temporary and agency work (TAW)—are associated with inter-generational co-residence in the United Kingdom. Refining the feathered nest/gilded cage hypothesis to incorporate forms of non-NSE, we analyse how parental social class moderates this relationship across the transition to adulthood phase, driven by both protective and propellant motives. We estimate logistic regression models using the 2021–2024 waves of the UK Labour Force Survey, which allow for a precise identification of time-related underemployment and agency working. Results suggest that states of labour underutilization (underemployment) and impermanence (TAW) as well as unemployment are all associated with higher probabilities of parental co-residence relative to standard employment. This relationship is in part mediated by earnings disparities. Further, socio-economic background matters—the positive insecurity co-residence association is most pronounced amongst young adults from service-class backgrounds. This is consistent with a refined feathered nest/gilded cage hypothesis whereby higher parental resources facilitate co-residence at earlier phases of adulthood transitions, especially for young adults facing labour market insecurities, but this slightly tapers off with age

Agency (philosophy · Earnings · Impermanence · Inequality · Underemployment · Unemployment · Welfare · Young adult · Employment and Welfare Studies · Work-Family Balance Challenges · Youth Education and Societal Dynamics