Work-life balance and a healthy sleep schedule? That’s practically the new American dream for workers juggling double shifts. While wages for many employees have outpaced inflation, the price of essentials such as rent and groceries has weighed on families — pushing more Americans to take on second jobs. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 5.3% of Americans held more than one job in July — up from the pandemic low of 4% in Apr. 2020 and tying 2019 levels.

• In the last 12 months, 54% of Americans have pursued side hustles — with Gen Zers (71%) and millennials (68%) leading the trend.
• Of the 66% of Americans who state they live paycheck to paycheck, more than half of them are taking on extra work to increase their earnings.

The hustle is real: During COVID, the need for second jobs was lower thanks to pandemic-era stimulus and unemployment benefits that provided sufficient financial support. However, as these measures ended, many Americans found themselves returning to second jobs. With rising living costs and growing concerns about potential layoffs, more Americans are aggressively job hunting and increasingly relying on second jobs to cover expenses. While the rise of the gig economy and the adoption of remote work have provided some relief, 44% of those with side hustles still report feeling financially unstable.