Workers have been urged to say whether the quality of their job has improved or declined since the recession and subsequent economic recovery.
The economy is on the road to recovery with a rising number of people in work, but MSPs fear the recession may have left a lasting impression on wages and hours.
Holyrood’s Economy Committee has issued a call for evidence on the quality of jobs in Scotland.
The Committee will explore the contrasting qualities of different jobs and the impact of low wages and temporary or insecure jobs on the Scottish economy.
The Committee will also look at the health and social impacts of low pay and low quality work, and how the Scottish Government policies can influence the quality of jobs and the wellbeing of workers in Scotland.
Committee convener Murdo Fraser said: “The Scottish economy is clearly on the road to recovery but it’s important that as politicians we reflect on whether the 2008 recession has had a long-lasting impact on the quality of jobs in the labour market.
“An increase of people in employment is always to be welcomed. However, this inquiry will delve into the issues behind the headlines and determine if job quality has improved.
“Issues such as low pay and zero hour contracts are high on the political agenda, but this inquiry wants to get to the bottom of their impact on the wider Scottish economy.”
Deputy convener Dennis Robertson said: “Part of this inquiry is about hearing directly from people across Scotland who work in different sectors of the economy about what they value from an employer and if their working conditions have improved.
“Along with other evidence, this will help us as a Committee to determine the impact of employment practices on the Scottish economy.
“The health and social impact of employment practices is one the Committee is particularly interested in hearing more about, particularly the impact of low pay.”
The Committee has issued a survey asking what makes a job “good” or “bad”, whether jobs have become better or worse since 2008, what effect low quality and low pay jobs have on the economy and what the Scottish Government and public policy makers can do to improve job quality in Scotland.