What is polywork? More are working multiple jobs to make ends meet

If you’ve found yourself punching in at two or three different jobs during the week just to make ends meet, don’t feel bad,you’re not alone, according to a new study.

The report comes from SideHustles.com and found that polyworking, the act of working multiple jobs, is becoming increasingly more common.

In total, the report found that 24% of workers in the United States are currently working multiple jobs, with women (26%) picking up two jobs more than men (18%).

As for the different generations, Gen X (27%) was the most likely to be considered a polyworker, followed by Gen Z (24%) and millennials (20%).

In fact, the report finds that the average person working multiple jobs is putting in 50 hours every week. But on top of that, another 46% of those with two jobs are considering getting a third.

When it comes to why workers are employed at multiple locations, 55% said they do it because the cost of living is too high.

The types of employees who work multiple jobs tend to be remote workers, as 1 in 3 are considered polyworkers. The report also found that 3 in 5 polyworkers keep their side jobs a secret from their primary employers.

Even though they don’t come forward about it, the pollsters found that 3 in 4 managers don’t have a problem with their employees working multiple jobs.

Burnout has been a major topic throughout the last year, and polyworkers are no strangers to feeling stretched thin. According to the report, 34% of polyworkers experience burnout. Those who felt burnout said part of it is due to the challenges they face managing several roles.

Still, for those who are uninitiated, 50% of workers are considering or trying to find an extra job, according to the report. The most common job types picked up by polyworkers are part-time roles (38%) and freelance gigs (25%)

The report also found that those working in the tech industry (15%), teachers (12%), and retail workers (10%) were the most likely to work additional jobs.

The poll also comes as a recent Gallup poll found that 51% of workers are watching for or looking for a new job, as just 18% of workers said they are “extremely” satisfied with their current job.

Worker satisfaction with their employers has reached a record low, as more job seekers are looking for new opportunities at the highest rate since 2015, Gallup noted.

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