On Friday, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) released Labour Account data for the December quarter, which showed that a record 925,000 people are working multiple jobs.
The rate of multiple job holding increased to 6.6%, which was the highest in the Labour Account series (which goes back to 1994).
The number of secondary jobs also reached a series high, increasing by 1.7% to 1.0 million.
“Almost one in every fifteen employed people now hold more than one job, with some of these people working more than two jobs at the same time”, ABS head of labour statistics, Bjorn Jarvis said.
The below chart from IFM Investors chief economist, Alex Joiner, tells the tale:
Callam Pickering, economist at global jobs site Indeed, has also plotted the share of multiple job holders over time:
Pickering noted on Twitter that “the cost-of-living crisis is likely driving this trend in recent quarters. More people seeking additional work to keep their heads above water”.
That assessment makes sense in light of the soaring cost of living, in particular utilities, food, mortgage repayments and rents.
