The ILO's 2015 World Employment Social Outlook Report titled "The Changing Nature of Jobs," released on Tuesday, revealed a clear shift away from reliable full-time jobs, as short-term contracts and irregular hours become more widespread.

The report, covering more than 180 countries and 84 percent of the global workforce, said that three quarters of workers across the world are employed on temporary or short-term contracts, held informal jobs often without any contract, or were in unpaid family jobs.

Globally, over 60 per cent of all workers lacked any kind of employment contract. And even among workers who earn salaries, only 42 percent had permanent contracts, the report noted.

Growing insecurity

ILO chief Guy Ryder said that in some cases, non-standard forms of work could help people get a foothold in the job market. However, he also warned that they were causing "widespread insecurity" among workers worldwide.

Another current trend is the rise in part-time employment, especially among women. At the same time, many of the world's workers find themselves in dire poverty, with nearly a quarter of them last year living with their families on less than $2 a day.

DW