van Ommen, CliffordGroot, Shiloh Ann MareeMasters-Awatere, BridgetteTassell-Matamua, NatashaGroot, Shiloh Ann Mareevan Ommen, CliffordMasters-Awatere, BridgetteTassell-Matamua, Natasha2020-01-2020172020-01-202017van Ommen, C., Groot, S., Masters-Awatere, B., & Tassell-Matamua, N. (2017). Introduction. In S. Groot, C. van Ommen, B. Masters-Awatere, & N. Tassell-Matamua (Eds.), Precarity: Uncertain, Insecure, and Unequal Lives in Aotearoa New Zealand (pp. 10–17). Auckland, New Zealand: Massey University Press.09941415139780994141514https://hdl.handle.net/10289/13384The concept of the precariat links to situations and experiences of uncertainty, dependency, powerlessness, perilousness and insufficiency. In one sense, precarity refers to the negative consequences for the wellbeing and survival of citizens following the gradual dismantling of the welfare state and union representation; in another related sense, it refers to the changing nature of work that becomes intermittent, insecure and insufficient. Precarity emerges within the global context of a neoliberal economic system that demands greater (job, skill, employment, time) flexibility among individuals so as to improve market competition on a global level.18application/pdfen© 2017 copyright with the authors.Chapter in Book