The Silent Crisis: Why Nearly 7% of Australians Are Working Two Jobs

A startling new trend has emerged in the Australian labor market, revealing that the percentage of individuals holding more than one job has reached an all-time high. According to commissioned analysis by personal loan company Credit24, 6.9% of working Australians now hold multiple jobs, a significant jump from the steady 5-6% rate observed between 1994 and 2019.

Who Is Taking on Second Jobs?

Contrary to the assumption that this is primarily a struggle for entry-level workers, the data indicates that the fastest growth is coming from experienced professionals. Credit24 analyst Lee Carney notes that many of these individuals are well past their first job, often with a decade or more of career experience.

"A second income at that stage of life often looks like a response to rising costs," Carney explained, highlighting that while individual household finances aren't visible in the data, the correlation with economic pressure is strong.

Regional vs. Urban Convergence

Historically, those living in regional areas were more likely to work multiple jobs compared to city dwellers. However, this gap is narrowing. This convergence suggests a shift in the nature of work:

• Tech-enabled workforce: Regional workers are increasingly able to access second jobs that were previously exclusive to metropolitan areas, thanks to digital connectivity.
• Hourly breakdown: Most people working two jobs do so on a part-time basis for each role. On average, they work 39.3 hours per week, compared to 34.8 hours for those with a single job.

The Scale of the Trend

The momentum behind this trend is accelerating. In the April, May, and June quarter alone, an additional 64,900 Australians became multiple jobholders. This represents the largest quarterly increase outside of the pandemic reopening quarters (September 2020, December 2020, and December 2021).

To put this in perspective, the 6.9% figure translates to approximately 1,049,100 people across the country.

Gender Disparities

Women are disproportionately affected by this trend. They make up 55% of all multiple job holders. Specifically, 7.7% of working women are employed at least two workplaces simultaneously, underscoring the growing financial pressures faced by female workers in Australia.