While Gen Z is optimizing for work-life balance, a rising share of Americans are learning to balance several jobs. In February, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that a record number of Americans — 8.9M, or about 5.4% of all employed workers — were working more than one job. That’s the largest share since the Great Recession in 2009, but the uptick in those holding multiple roles is more complicated than it looks.

• Historically, Americans took on additional jobs to make ends meet — and the rising cost of living is weighing on more Americans than ever, increasing the popularity of overemployment.
• Online communities like r/overemployed and overemployed.com have exploded in popularity as more Americans have actively sought out second jobs, extra freelance work, and self-employment.

When overemployment is good: Since the pandemic, many Americans have faced blunt realities at work — whether it’s layoffs, paltry raises, or waning advancement opportunities. It’s these factors, among other things, that have driven an increasing number of Americans to build their own paths and embrace overemployment to generate more income, learn and upskill, and reach financial goals faster. Still, the rise can be seen as an indictment of the failure of employers to help nourish their employees — a factor that has been seen weighing on American workers’ confidence and enthusiasm at work.