06-12-2025
Recent data reveals that more Americans are juggling multiple jobs. As of March 2025, over 8.9 million individuals have multiple full- or part-time jobs, higher than it has ever been since the Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking it. Professor Erin Hatton told the New York Times the “biggest” reason people take more jobs is that they need more money to live. Hardship and economic need force them to “cobble together a variety of subpar jobs.”
The COVID-19 pandemic spurred the increase in polyworking. Some employers, desperate to find workers, relaxed their regular rules that employees could not work more than one job. In addition, the remote office opportunities made it easier to work for multiple employers. About half of employees with multiple jobs have a college degree, up from 44 percent in 2014 (Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis). While U.S. unemployment remains low, high housing costs and bigger grocery bills make it harder for workers to make ends meet.
According to a study by Academized, millennials, who comprise the largest portion of the workforce, struggle to stay ahead of inflation. Almost a quarter of these workers have three jobs, and a third have four or more income-earning opportunities (The Guardian). Earning extra income is not the only reason these workers have so many jobs. It helps them pursue personal interests and gain skills for career advancement. It may be a significant component of the rise in business start-ups. Some experts have expressed concern about the long-term impact of having more than one job on the individual and society. The extra work hours require sacrifices to mental health and family time.