Probability of Holding Multiple Jobs
~5%
Annual probability in US
About 5% of American workers hold multiple jobs simultaneously, with the gig economy expanding this number.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 5% of employed Americans (about 8.3 million workers) hold more than one job at any given time. The rate has remained relatively stable over the past two decades by official measures, though many economists believe the true rate is higher when informal gig work is included.
The most common reasons for multiple job holding include meeting basic expenses (cited by about 32% of multiple jobholders), paying off debt (about 24%), building savings (about 20%), and gaining experience or pursuing a passion (about 16%). Women are slightly more likely than men to hold multiple jobs, and workers aged 25-54 have the highest rates.
The gig economy has significantly expanded opportunities for supplemental income through platforms like ride-sharing, food delivery, freelance marketplaces, and short-term rental hosting. Including gig work, surveys suggest that up to 36% of Americans participate in some form of supplementary income activity. Multiple jobholders work an average of 49 hours per week total, compared to 39 hours for single-jobholders. Research has linked chronic multiple jobholding to increased stress, burnout, and health problems.
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