Night workers face deep inequalities in pay, health and safety, major UCL study reveals 

London’s 1.3-million night workers are facing significant inequalities in pay, health, safety and workplace dignity, according to the most comprehensive study of its kind led by researchers at UCL. 

Night workers – those working between 6pm and 6am – make up around a quarter of London’s 5.3 million workforce and 16 per cent of the UK’s night workforce. Roles span healthcare, transport, hospitality, deliveries, cleaning, security and the performing arts. More than 220,000 commute in from outside London, and the workforce is disproportionately made up of people from ethnic minority backgrounds, women, LGBTQ+ workers and those not born in the UK. 

The Data after Dark project, delivered by the UCL Social Data Institute and UCL Urban Laboratory and supported by the Mayor of London, combines mobile phone data, surveys, employer responses, interviews and in-depth conversations. The study aimed to map the breadth of night work in the capital and understand the pressures experienced by those working outside traditional hours. 

Pay, insecurity and poor working conditions 

Many night workers surveyed reported financial insecurity. 29 per cent earn below the London Living Wage. 26 per cent work multiple jobs. Many face irregular or precarious contracts, with limited legal protections. Only 11 per cent of surveyed employers were accredited to the Mayor of London’s Good Work Standard. 

Health and wellbeing impacts 

Workers described stress, social isolation and difficulty managing health conditions including insomnia, migraines and diabetes. Access to nutritious food at night was limited: 

• 63 per cent reported limited access to healthy food at work. 

• 47 per cent had no access to affordable food during shifts. 

Transport and safety challenges 

Night journeys commonly take longer than daytime commutes, with 32 per cent reporting extended travel times and many relying on multiple transport modes. While 62 per cent use public transport, shift patterns mean some miss out on daily fare caps. 

One in five night workers said they feel unsafe commuting after dark, reporting harassment, theft and discrimination linked to gender or ethnicity both during travel and at work. 

Policy recommendations 

The research sets out proposals relevant to the forthcoming Employment Rights Bill, which aims to reform UK employment law. UCL researchers stress the bill’s effectiveness depends on addressing the specific conditions faced by night workers. 

Recommendations include: 

• Fair wages and employment conditions that reflect the risks and demands of night work. 

• Flexible training opportunities and improved awareness of workplace rights. 

• A review of transport infrastructure, including extended hours, night routes and fair travel pricing. 

• Piloting night worker hubs providing safe rest and welfare spaces. 

• Better access to mental health support, healthy meals and research into long-term health impacts. 

Lead researcher Professor James Cheshire (UCL Social Data Institute) said the study helps fill a long-standing evidence gap: 

“Up to now relatively little data has been gathered on the experiences of night workers because the statistical infrastructure in the UK largely assumes a consistent 9 to 5 working pattern, missing many who work outside those hours.” 

“London is a vibrant and complex 24-hour metropolis, that relies on those who clean offices, stock shelves and keep deliveries moving while most of us sleep. This study highlights the stark differences in their working and economic conditions, that impacts their safety, health and wellbeing.” 

Professor Ben Campkin (UCL Urban Laboratory) said the findings are timely as employment legislation progresses through Parliament: 

“There’s urgency here. The Employment Rights Bill proposes landmark reforms… However, if the Bill is to truly be effective, we must understand and act on the lived experiences of night workers, otherwise the legislation may fall short of its promise to ‘Make Work Pay’ for all.” 

Matthew Hopkinson, Honorary Professor of Practice and Co-Founder of Didobi, said the study provides

“the evidence needed to support an often-unseen group of workers and businesses.” 

Deputy Mayor for Culture and Creative Industries, Justine Simons, said: 

“Throughout the night 1.3 million Londoners are working hard to keep our city running… this report is an important step forward, and it shines a light on both the challenges and the opportunities.” 

Although focused on London, researchers say the insights apply to other UK cities and international 24-hour economies.