[COLOR=var(--primary-text-color)][FONT=var(--article-font-family)]As the holidays approach and America’s full-time workers feel pinched by inflation, some are turning to second jobs to supplement their incomes.[/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=var(--primary-text-color)][FONT=var(--article-font-family)]The October jobs report shows the number of Americans working part-time jobs in addition to their full-time jobs has increased 6%, year-over-year, to 4.5 million people, according to statistics from the Labor Department. With
unemployment at 3.7%, the job market is still strong but is showing more signs of cooling. Inflation
is still eclipsing wage gains, driving some full-time workers to consider getting additional part-time jobs for the first time in their working lives.[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=var(--primary-text-color)][FONT=var(--article-font-family)]Nearly three-quarters of workers said they need additional work to make enough income due to inflation, according to an October survey of more than 1,700 U.S.-based employees by job search website Monster.com. A separate survey of more than 4,700 people conducted by Prudential Financial Inc. found 81% of Gen-Z and 77% of millennial workers said they have pursued gig work or are considering additional side work this year to supplement their income.
[COLOR=var(--primary-text-color)][FONT=var(--article-font-family)]“I had to do what I had to do to not fall behind,” said Antonio Torres, a 29-year-old full-time asphalt paver in St. George, Utah, who got a part-time weekend job washing dishes and line cooking at a chain restaurant three weeks ago. The job nets him more than $200 in extra income each week.[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=var(--primary-text-color)][FONT=var(--article-font-family)]Mr. Torres, who has worked as a paver for six years, said this was the first time that he’s needed a second job to help pay bills. Even though paving work tends to slow down in the fall and winter, Mr. Torres and his wife, a medical assistant, were usually able to handle all their utility and credit-card bills and have enough left over for eating out.[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=var(--primary-text-color)][FONT=var(--article-font-family)]He puts in 12-hour days at the restaurant on Saturdays and Sundays, leaving him little time to spend with his wife, but he said it would be worth it. “I want to work hard to get a little extra cash so we can save to do more things.” [/FONT][/COLOR]
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[COLOR=var(--primary-text-color)][FONT=var(--article-font-family)]Some recruiters say it isn’t just blue-collar workers seeking extra work this year. People in professional jobs are starting to look for additional income too, said Jennifer Knippenberg, chief recruiting officer of staffing firm [/FONT][/COLOR]
Kelly Services[COLOR=var(--primary-text-color)][FONT=var(--article-font-family)] Inc. In prior years, one of 100 white-collar professionals were looking for a second job—now it’s one in 30, she added.[/FONT][/COLOR]
