Nearly a million Australians picking up more than one job, according to ABS
Wage cuts and underemployment are major contributors to the growing number of multiple job-holders in Australia, according to reports.
The latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics revealed that there were 986,400 multiple job-holders in the country as of September 2024. This is equivalent to 6.6% of employed people at that time.
The figure is up slightly from the 959,500 multiple job-holders in the June 2024 quarter, or about 6.5% of all employed people during the period.
Angela Knox, a professor from Sydney University's Business School, said individuals are taking on an additional job due to the rising costs of living.
"Wage growth has not been matching the rate of inflation growth," Knox told ABC News. "That means that for most people, they're suffering a real wage cut. To be able to meet their costs … they're potentially picking up extra work."
Underemployment is also a factor in the rising number of multiple job-holders.
According to Knox, it indicates that people are "cobbling together other jobs to try and build up" hours to full-time work.
"They're picking up extra work on the side to be able to bolster their regular income, to be able to meet their regular commitments," she said as quoted by ABC.
Knox's reasons fall in line with recent data from Robert Half, which found that 44% of employees who are considering a second job do so in order to meet financial needs.
Another 33% said they would use it as extra funds for discretionary spending, while eight per cent said it is for a backup job in case of a layoff from their primary job.
But having multiple jobs might not always be an ideal employment arrangement.
Nicole Gorton, director at Robert Half, previously noted that there are potential consequences for employees if they take up a second job that is against the organisation's policy.
"Workers will need to check what (if any) obligations they have with their current employer before taking on a second job," Gorton said.
For employers, Fay Calderone, partner in the employment and workplace relations practice at Hall & Wilcox, previously advised employers to be transparent on how they feel about employees taking on a second job.
Employers can put into contracts the provisions setting the parameters around secondary employment, according to Calderone.
"It may be particularly draconian in some industries, especially with inflationary pressures, the current state of the economy and the nature of work, to say: 'No one can ever work a second job, if they want to work for us,'" Calderone previously told HRD.
"If you have those policy frameworks and documents in place that require people to disclose or seek approval, then that's all lawful and reasonable direction."
