One job isn’t enough for millions of Americans. Here’s who’s working two or more

For millions of Americans, one job isn’t the whole workweek anymore.

After finishing a regular shift, some workers head to a second job. Others drive deliveries at night, freelance on weekends, pick up seasonal work, or piece together several part-time positions just to make the numbers work.

The reasons aren’t all the same. Rising housing, food, childcare, healthcare, and other household expenses can make one paycheck feel increasingly inadequate. Some people take additional work to pay down debt or build savings, while others use a second job to pursue a business or career they hope will eventually replace their primary income.

But who is most likely to work multiple jobs—and how much has this really changed? Here’s what the data tells us about the Americans working two or more jobs and why they’re doing it.

How Many Americans Hold Multiple Jobs?

In July 2026, about 8.6 million Americans held more than one job, representing 5.3% of all employed people, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s up from about 8.2 million, or 5.0%, in July 2025. Women were notably more likely to be multiple jobholders: 5.9% of employed women worked more than one job, compared with 4.7% of men.

The way Americans are combining jobs also varies considerably:

• 4.77 million worked a full-time primary job plus a part-time second job.
• 2.16 million worked two part-time jobs.
• 473,000 reported working two full-time jobs.
• 1.12 million had hours that varied on either their primary or secondary job.

The numbers suggest that holding multiple jobs remains a significant feature of the U.S. labor market. And for most multiple jobholders, the pattern isn’t two simultaneous full-time careers: the most common arrangement by far is a full-time primary job supplemented by part-time work.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: July 2026 multiple-jobholder data

More Women Than men Are Working Two Jobs

Women continue to be more likely than men to hold multiple jobs. In July 2026, 5.9% of employed women were multiple jobholders, compared with 4.7% of employed men, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That amounted to approximately 4.54 million women and 4.05 million men working more than one job.

The gender difference isn’t simply a one-month anomaly. On an annual basis, 5.9% of employed women held multiple jobs in 2025, compared with 4.9% of men. The rate was even higher among some groups: 7% of employed women who were widowed, divorced, or separated held multiple jobs, as did 6.5% of never-married women.

Why people take on additional work varies considerably. The U.S. Census Bureau notes that some multiple jobholders need the additional income to make ends meet, while others may be unable to obtain enough hours from one job or are balancing jobs around competing scheduling demands.

Remote work has also made it easier for some workers to combine jobs or pursue freelance and side work, but I would not state that remote workers are more likely to hold multiple jobs as a current fact without a specific study supporting it. What we can say is that remote work remains far more common than it was before the pandemic: 13.8% of U.S. workers usually worked from home in 2023, compared with 5.7% in 2019, potentially giving some workers greater flexibility in how and where they earn additional income.

What Are The Main Reasons For Holding Down Multiple Jobs?

The primary reasons for holding multiple jobs include combating high inflation, which has outpaced wage growth, and preparing for potential economic downturns or layoffs.

Rising prices continue to squeeze household budgets

Inflation was one factor that pushed some Americans toward second jobs during the sharp rise in living costs following the pandemic. While inflation has come down considerably from its 2022 peak, that doesn’t mean prices returned to where they were. Families are still paying substantially more for many necessities than they were several years ago.

And inflation has picked up again. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, consumer prices were 3.4% higher in July 2026 than a year earlier. Food prices increased 3.0%, while energy costs were up 14.7%.

The relationship between wages and inflation has also shifted. Workers experienced periods of real wage growth as inflation cooled in 2024 and 2025; in July 2025, for example, real average hourly earnings were 1.2% higher than a year earlier. But that progress has recently stalled. From July 2025 to July 2026, average hourly earnings increased 3.2% while consumer prices increased 3.3%, leaving real hourly earnings down 0.2% after adjusting for inflation.

For workers already operating on tight budgets, even modest increases in the cost of housing, groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare can make a second source of income increasingly attractive—or necessary.

Job Security

Some individuals take on extra work to brace for potential layoffs, which tend to peak at the start of a new year. This is a precautionary measure to ensure financial stability in uncertain job markets.

Low Wages

Many workers, especially those in low-wage jobs, find that their primary employment does not provide sufficient income. This is particularly true for those earning minimum wage or slightly above, who struggle to afford basic necessities.

Seasonal Employment

There is a seasonal aspect to multiple jobholding, with some individuals taking on additional work during the holidays to cover extra expenses or to save for future needs.

Medical and Personal Expenses

High medical bills and other unexpected expenses often necessitate additional income. Personal stories reveal that some individuals work multiple jobs to pay off medical debts or to afford necessary treatments.

Remote Work

The rise of remote work has facilitated the ability to hold multiple jobs. Remote workers, benefiting from flexible schedules and the elimination of commute times, are more likely to take on additional employment.

Increased Productivity

The flexibility of remote work can lead to increased productivity, enabling workers to handle multiple roles without the physical constraints of traditional office jobs.

Personal Narratives

Many individuals, such as Cashe Lewis from Denver and Laura Richwine from Omaha, have shared their struggles in a Guardian article of working multiple jobs to cover rising living costs and medical expenses, highlighting the broader economic challenges faced by low-wage earners.

Lewis is a barista and convenience store worker from Denver, Colorado, who also donates plasma to cover living expenses due to high rent and medical costs.

Richwine, an administrative worker from Omaha, Nebraska, has routinely held multiple jobs to manage hefty medical bills and low wages.

The Takeaway

The main reasons Americans are taking on multiple jobs include economic pressures like inflation and high living costs, the need for income stability, the flexibility offered by remote work, and personal financial challenges. These factors collectively drive the increasing trend of multiple jobholding in the United States. Do you hold down more than one job?

Acing the Job Interview: Strategies from HR Experts

In today’s competitive job market, securing a position can often feel like navigating a maze. Hiring managers have seen firsthand the common pitfalls that candidates encounter during the interview process. Based on their extensive experience, we’ve collected invaluable insights and strategies to enhance your chances of landing your dream job.

READ: Acing the Job Interview: Strategies from HR Experts