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Academic Casualisation and Precarity: A Scoping Review

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Title: Academic Casualisation and Precarity: A Scoping Review
Language: English
Authors: Rebekah Willson (ORCID 0000-0001-8430-8827), Owen Stewart-Robertson (ORCID 0000-0002-3369-1368), Heidi Julien (ORCID 0000-0001-8633-5124), Lisa M. Given (ORCID 0000-0003-1840-6175)
Source: Higher Education Research and Development. 2026 45(4):1165-1187.
Availability: Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 23
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Information Analyses
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: College Faculty, Adjunct Faculty, Labor Relations, Teacher Administrator Relationship, Ambiguity (Context), Contracts, Part Time Faculty, Occupational Aspiration, Career Development
DOI: 10.1080/07294360.2025.2573983
ISSN: 0729-4360
1469-8366
Abstract: Worldwide there are significant and growing concerns about the increasing number of academics working on short-term contracts (referred to as adjunct faculty, contingent faculty, casual academics, sessionals, etc.). These concerns include working conditions and the consequences of casualised labour practices on higher education. However, the number of empirical studies that speak directly to these issues is relatively small. This scoping review, which is the first review of the experiences of contract academic staff, used Arksey and O'Malley's methodology for a scoping review and used PRISMA guidelines. Twelve databases were searched, and 2507 records screened, leading to 71 empirical articles focusing on the experiences and perceptions of contract academics, including their ways of working, communications and interactions with universities, and the influence of precarity and marginalisation within higher education, generally. The findings show working on short-term contracts not only disrupts how academics conduct their day-to-day work, but also influences their expectations about academic work. Further, the findings indicate that precarity is differentially experienced, leading to greater inequality for some. Lastly, the findings point to disrupted workplace communications. The review highlights both practical issues for contract academic staff and broader concerns for the field of higher education.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1504315
Database: ERIC
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  Data: Academic Casualisation and Precarity: A Scoping Review
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Rebekah+Willson%22">Rebekah Willson</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8430-8827">0000-0001-8430-8827</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Owen+Stewart-Robertson%22">Owen Stewart-Robertson</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3369-1368">0000-0002-3369-1368</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Heidi+Julien%22">Heidi Julien</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8633-5124">0000-0001-8633-5124</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Lisa+M%2E+Given%22">Lisa M. Given</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1840-6175">0000-0003-1840-6175</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Higher+Education+Research+and+Development%22"><i>Higher Education Research and Development</i></searchLink>. 2026 45(4):1165-1187.
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  Data: Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Faculty%22">College Faculty</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Adjunct+Faculty%22">Adjunct Faculty</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Labor+Relations%22">Labor Relations</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teacher+Administrator+Relationship%22">Teacher Administrator Relationship</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ambiguity+%28Context%29%22">Ambiguity (Context)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Contracts%22">Contracts</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Part+Time+Faculty%22">Part Time Faculty</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Occupational+Aspiration%22">Occupational Aspiration</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Career+Development%22">Career Development</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1080/07294360.2025.2573983
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  Data: 0729-4360<br />1469-8366
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  Data: Worldwide there are significant and growing concerns about the increasing number of academics working on short-term contracts (referred to as adjunct faculty, contingent faculty, casual academics, sessionals, etc.). These concerns include working conditions and the consequences of casualised labour practices on higher education. However, the number of empirical studies that speak directly to these issues is relatively small. This scoping review, which is the first review of the experiences of contract academic staff, used Arksey and O'Malley's methodology for a scoping review and used PRISMA guidelines. Twelve databases were searched, and 2507 records screened, leading to 71 empirical articles focusing on the experiences and perceptions of contract academics, including their ways of working, communications and interactions with universities, and the influence of precarity and marginalisation within higher education, generally. The findings show working on short-term contracts not only disrupts how academics conduct their day-to-day work, but also influences their expectations about academic work. Further, the findings indicate that precarity is differentially experienced, leading to greater inequality for some. Lastly, the findings point to disrupted workplace communications. The review highlights both practical issues for contract academic staff and broader concerns for the field of higher education.
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  Data: 2026
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