An increasing numbers of women and young people in Europe are working short term jobs under temporary contract terms. Though these types of contracts offer employers flexibility in hiring and firing, experts are finding the instability of these jobs is affecting work injury and fertility rates as well as having an impact on workers' life choices.
See "The Workplace: In long run, short-term jobs risky", Doreen Carvajal, International Herald Tribune, July 20, 2004