Purpose: Job insecurity has been recognized as a predominant work stressor in work environment research for the past thirty years. Thus far, two meta-analyses have been published on the consequences of job insecurity for individual and organizational outcomes. However, these meta-analyses were published in 2002 and 2008 and contain only a few broad outcomes. Since then, the amount of published job insecurity studies have increased substantially, investigating a wider range of outcomes. The aim of the present meta-analysis was to extend previous knowledge by investigating the effects of job insecurity on a broader spectrum of outcomes than the previous meta-analyses have done.

Design/Methodology: Literature searches with the search terms “job insecurity”, “job uncertainty”, “job security”, and “job security satisfaction” in relevant databases during the time period 1980─2016 resulted in 523 peer-reviewed papers published. The outcome variables were divided in to three thematic categories: work related attitudes and behaviors, mental and physical health, and life outside work.

Results: The results suggest that job insecurity has a substantial and negative impact on the wide range of outcomes included.

Limitations: The study cannot address the question of direction (causality) of the relationships presented and did not control for potential confounding variables.

Research/Practical implications: Job insecurity is demonstrated to have strong, negative effects on organizational performance and individual health and well-being as well as for life outside work.

Originality/Value: Adding to previous knowledge, this study both broadens and deepens the understanding of the negative consequences associated with job insecurity.