Some people work multiple jobs because they want the extra cash for beer money, vacations, or other fun things. Some people do it because they can’t make ends meet with just their main job. Whatever the reason, the idea of working multiple jobs is now being called “polywork” (back in the day it was just “doing what you had to do”). Since a lot of you are probably in that boat, some recent survey research has shed some light on polywork that we thought was worth sharing.
Here are Five Fast Facts on polywork:
- 📈 It Happens A Lot - There are over 70 million freelance workers in the country as of 2022, an increase of 20% over 2021. About 40% of those surveyed hold two jobs, and almost a third hold three or more! It appears the pandemic and inflation have really trashed people’s personal finances, huh?
- 🌊 It’s A Coastal Thing - Six of the top 10 cities where people are most interested in polywork are on the coasts. This is likely at least in part because coastal cities are also the most expensive to live in.
- 💻 Some Fields More Than Others - People in certain job fields are more likely to engage in polywork than others. Computers and tech (42%), marketing and advertising (30%), and finance and economics (26%) are the most likely fields for polyworkers.
- 💰 The Good Stuff - Why do it? Those surveyed said flexibility (59%), extra income (50%), and overall freedom (50%) were the top reasons. Work when you want and earn extra cash? Yep, that sounds pretty persuasive.
- 😞 The Bad Stuff - There are also some downsides to polywork. Almost 10% more polyworkers experience burnout compared to those with only one job, and 5% more report being “stressed.” Workers with one job report significantly more inspiration (9% more) and productivity (25% more) at work, too. Also, polyworkers report that if they didn’t work multiple jobs they’d have to move to a different city (42%) or be unable to keep up with inflation (41%), among other unfortunate results.
🔥Bottom line: People work more than one job for all kinds of reasons. The big point here is that it’s much more common now than in previous years, and it cuts across ages and industries. If you’re finding a need for extra money each month, it could be a good option for you.
Do you work more than one job?
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