From secure jobs and living wages to the precarity trap
When the war ended in 1945, the UK’s economy was on its knees.
Debt had ballooned, infrastructure was battered, and millions of soldiers returned home seeking work.
But in the years that followed, Britain didn’t crumble. It built — an economy, a welfare state, and a promise:
If you worked hard, you’d have a decent job, a decent wage, and a decent life.
That promise, though far from perfect, shaped the working lives of generations.
So why does work today feel so insecure, so underpaid — and for many, so hopeless?
We’re nearly halfway there! Thanks to amazing supporters, we’ve raised £20 toward this month’s £50 goal to fund independent research and reporting.
If you value fearless political journalism that holds the powerful to account, please chip in today. Even £2 helps keep Vox Political running strong.
👉 Support us here: https://ko-fi.com/voxpolitical
The post-war work ethic — and the social contract
After 1945, full employment wasn’t a political talking point — it was a national mission.
Governments actively intervened in the economy to keep people in work.
Major industries were nationalised.
New public services (like the NHS and education) created hundreds of thousands of jobs.
- Unions were strong and wages rose in line with productivity.
- A single job could support a family — with one wage earner.
- Apprenticeships, skilled trades, and stable careers were routes out of poverty.
- There was dignity in work — and an understanding that the system would not leave people behind.
It wasn’t utopia — but for millions, it was a path to stability.
Buy Cruel Britannia in print here. Buy the Cruel Britannia ebook here. Or just click on the image!
The shift: what went wrong?
From the late 1970s onwards, the rules changed.
Unions were weakened, especially during the Thatcher era, tipping the balance of power toward employers.
Deindustrialisation hit communities hard — especially in the North and Midlands — as coal mines, steelworks, and factories closed.
Privatisation and deregulation turned public services into profit-driven ventures, often at the cost of job security.
“Flexibility” became the buzzword — and with it came zero-hours contracts, gig economy jobs, and the explosion of part-time and agency work.
Wages stagnated while the cost of living soared — and today, many workers earn less in real terms than they did 15 years ago.
Get my free guide: “10 Political Lies You Were Sold This Decade” — just subscribe to our email list here:
👉 https://voxpoliticalonline.com
Today’s working Britain
Despite record employment levels, work in 2025 too often means:
- Low pay that doesn’t cover basic living costs.
- No sick pay, no guaranteed hours, no stability.
- Two or three jobs just to make ends meet.
- Food banks for full-time workers.
- Exploitation in care work, hospitality, retail, and delivery.
We live in a country where the economy grows, but the people doing the work see little benefit.
Even “middle-class” professions are stretched thin:
- NHS staff are leaving due to burnout and real-terms pay cuts.
- Teachers, lecturers, and civil servants have been striking just to stop falling behind.
- Young workers are stuck in insecure roles with no pensions, no hope of owning a home, and little chance of advancement.
We’re nearly halfway there! Thanks to amazing supporters, we’ve raised £20 toward this month’s £50 goal to fund independent research and reporting.
Let’s close the gap this week! Help us hit £50 and power the next investigation.
If you value fearless political journalism that holds the powerful to account, please chip in today. Even £2 helps keep Vox Political running strong.
👉 Support us here: https://ko-fi.com/voxpolitical
Work as it was — and as it should be
The idea that one income could support a family — once normal – now seems laughable to many.
And yet, the post-war generation managed to build an economy where that was possible.
They didn’t have more money — but they had political will.
They understood that an economy should serve people, not just the market.
Isn’t it time to rebuild that promise?
We need to stop pretending this is normal.
It’s not normal for full-time workers to live in poverty.
It’s not normal for nurses to need food banks.
It’s not normal to work 60 hours a week and still fall behind.
Just like in 1945, we face a choice:
Do we let the current system grind people down — or do we rebuild a future where work means security, dignity, and a life worth living?
What is work like for you?
Are you juggling multiple jobs to survive?
Have you worked in the same role for years without a real pay rise?
Are you a key worker who feels undervalued and underpaid?
Do you remember when one job could support a family?
Let’s hear your story.
Share it in the comments, reply on social media, or email us directly: [email protected]
They fought for peace and built prosperity. We owe it to them — and to ourselves — to build a working future that works for everyone.
Vox Political needs your help!
If you want to support this site
(but don’t want to give your money to advertisers)
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Join the Vox Political Facebook page.
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And do share with your family and friends – so they don’t miss out!
If you have appreciated this article, don’t forget to share it using the buttons at the bottom of this page. Politics is about everybody – so let’s try to get everybody involved!
Buy Vox Political books so we can continue
fighting for the facts.
Cruel Britannia is available
in either print or eBook format here:
The Livingstone Presumption is available
in either print or eBook format here:
Health Warning: Government! is now available
in either print or eBook format here:
The first collection, Strong Words and Hard Times,
is still available in either print or eBook format here:
80 years after VE Day: what happened to work?
From secure jobs and living wages to the precarity trap
When the war ended in 1945, the UK’s economy was on its knees.
Debt had ballooned, infrastructure was battered, and millions of soldiers returned home seeking work.
But in the years that followed, Britain didn’t crumble. It built — an economy, a welfare state, and a promise:
That promise, though far from perfect, shaped the working lives of generations.
So why does work today feel so insecure, so underpaid — and for many, so hopeless?
We’re nearly halfway there! Thanks to amazing supporters, we’ve raised £20 toward this month’s £50 goal to fund independent research and reporting.
If you value fearless political journalism that holds the powerful to account, please chip in today. Even £2 helps keep Vox Political running strong.
👉 Support us here: https://ko-fi.com/voxpolitical
The post-war work ethic — and the social contract
After 1945, full employment wasn’t a political talking point — it was a national mission.
Governments actively intervened in the economy to keep people in work.
Major industries were nationalised.
New public services (like the NHS and education) created hundreds of thousands of jobs.
It wasn’t utopia — but for millions, it was a path to stability.
Buy Cruel Britannia in print here. Buy the Cruel Britannia ebook here. Or just click on the image!
The shift: what went wrong?
From the late 1970s onwards, the rules changed.
Unions were weakened, especially during the Thatcher era, tipping the balance of power toward employers.
Deindustrialisation hit communities hard — especially in the North and Midlands — as coal mines, steelworks, and factories closed.
Privatisation and deregulation turned public services into profit-driven ventures, often at the cost of job security.
“Flexibility” became the buzzword — and with it came zero-hours contracts, gig economy jobs, and the explosion of part-time and agency work.
Wages stagnated while the cost of living soared — and today, many workers earn less in real terms than they did 15 years ago.
Get my free guide: “10 Political Lies You Were Sold This Decade” — just subscribe to our email list here:
👉 https://voxpoliticalonline.com
Today’s working Britain
Despite record employment levels, work in 2025 too often means:
We live in a country where the economy grows, but the people doing the work see little benefit.
Even “middle-class” professions are stretched thin:
We’re nearly halfway there! Thanks to amazing supporters, we’ve raised £20 toward this month’s £50 goal to fund independent research and reporting.
Let’s close the gap this week! Help us hit £50 and power the next investigation.
If you value fearless political journalism that holds the powerful to account, please chip in today. Even £2 helps keep Vox Political running strong.
👉 Support us here: https://ko-fi.com/voxpolitical
Work as it was — and as it should be
The idea that one income could support a family — once normal – now seems laughable to many.
And yet, the post-war generation managed to build an economy where that was possible.
They didn’t have more money — but they had political will.
They understood that an economy should serve people, not just the market.
Isn’t it time to rebuild that promise?
We need to stop pretending this is normal.
It’s not normal for full-time workers to live in poverty.
It’s not normal for nurses to need food banks.
It’s not normal to work 60 hours a week and still fall behind.
Just like in 1945, we face a choice:
What is work like for you?
Are you juggling multiple jobs to survive?
Have you worked in the same role for years without a real pay rise?
Are you a key worker who feels undervalued and underpaid?
Do you remember when one job could support a family?
Let’s hear your story.
Share it in the comments, reply on social media, or email us directly: [email protected]
Vox Political needs your help!
If you want to support this site
(but don’t want to give your money to advertisers)
you can make a one-off donation here:
Be among the first to know what’s going on! Here are the ways to manage it:
1) Register with us by clicking on ‘Subscribe’ (bottom right of the home page). You can then receive notifications of every new article that is posted here.
2) Follow VP on Twitter @VoxPolitical
3) Like the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/VoxPolitical/
Join the Vox Political Facebook page.
4) You could even make Vox Political your homepage at http://voxpoliticalonline.com
5) Follow Vox Political writer Mike Sivier on BlueSky
6) Join the MeWe page at https://mewe.com/p-front/voxpolitical
7) Feel free to comment!
And do share with your family and friends – so they don’t miss out!
If you have appreciated this article, don’t forget to share it using the buttons at the bottom of this page. Politics is about everybody – so let’s try to get everybody involved!
Buy Vox Political books so we can continue
fighting for the facts.
Cruel Britannia is available
in either print or eBook format here:
The Livingstone Presumption is available
in either print or eBook format here:
Health Warning: Government! is now available
in either print or eBook format here:
The first collection, Strong Words and Hard Times,
is still available in either print or eBook format here:
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