A new report says a growing number of adult workers in the Toronto and Hamilton areas are going without stable paycheques and benefits such as extended health and pension plans.
   
The McMaster University-United Way Toronto study finds that four in 10 workers are trapped in or partly feeling the effects of so-called precarious employment, while the rest hold on to better permanent jobs.
   
And it says the rate of precarious labourers in jobs such as temporary or contract work has jumped by almost 50 per cent in the last two decades.
   
The research says such workers tend to have fluctuating weekly incomes, lack funds to cover unexpected costs and see their work schedules change with little notice.
   
It finds that precarious work doesn't only just impact lower income earners, but middle class households as well.
   
The findings say the insecurity can be a factor in couplesputting off having children and causes stress that interferes with personal and family life, and is even tied to having fewer close friends and less community engagement.