The rise of 'polywork': 40% of employees have more than one job

Managing one job is often stressful enough, yet a growing number of employees are willingly adding more jobs to their roster.  

A recent study conducted by payroll services company Paychex found that 40% of  respondents hold two jobs and around  one-third juggle up to three or more.  Nearly half of Americans plan to work their multiple jobs for more than three years. While not a new trend, these "polyworkers" may be responding to recent economic and social shifts. 

"Inflation and the cost of living have played a major role in the rise of polywork," says Marsha Akpodiete, an HR coach at Paychex. "The flexibility and freedom of the polywork lifestyle can be too good for many to pass up, and quitting it could result in hardships like having to relocate or struggling to keep up with the economy."

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Nearly all the polyworkers Paychex surveyed  are freelancers and most opt for a remote work setting. Gen Z makes up the majority of polyworkers, with 46% of them holding two jobs and 47% three or more, a 10% higher participation than other generations.  

"Gen Z is notably a generation that prioritizes flexibility and careers that align with their values," Akpodiete says. "Polywork enables them to pursue multiple passions and curate careers that reflect their values and interests while maintaining flexibility."

The pandemic also caused widespread unemployment and economic uncertainty, particularly for younger workers who hold many of the freelance or entry level positions that have seen significant job cuts. That kind of instability prompted employees across every age demographic to explore alternate ways of earning a living in the form of side gigs and entrepreneurial projects. Even as the job market and the economy heals, the effects continue to be widespread, leading to a mentality of overwork and financial stress. 

As a result, more than 1 in 5 people still said they'd be unable to pay bills if they didn't work multiple jobs, according to Paychex, and more than 4 in 10 people say they'd have to move to another city to keep up with inflation.

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While polywork may offer a financial reprieve to struggling workers, it can take its toll in other areas. Paychex's research found workers holding just one job are 44% more likely to feel productive than polyworkers, and feel less burned out than their peers with multiple jobs. It has also created a hiring challenge, as recruiters feel concerned that multiple jobs could lead to obstacles like poor retention, slower learning and development and poor organizational skills.

Still, as the gig economy continues to draw in more workers with the promise of diversified income streams, Akpodiete anticipates that polywork will grow to become somewhat normal in a post-pandemic labor force.  

"The long-term trend is uncertain, given that there are potential challenges and hiring concerns associated with any kind of work," she says. "[For now], polyworkers are more satisfied with their work-life balance than workers with just one job, and nearly as satisfied with their career. We expect this trend to continue."