Why Gen Z is juggling multiple jobs
Timeka Gomillion works two jobs as an event venue usher and a student center receptionist while completing her degree in computer engineering at the University of the District of Columbia.
The 35-year-old actor said he juggles multiple jobs out of financial necessity, and due to rising living costs, he expects to maintain several jobs even after finding a position on his career path.
“One job would be easier, but I know if there is another job, it could either be a check I can put aside or just play money,” he said.
Gomillion is among a growing number of Americans who are “income hoarding” or taking on multiple jobs to provide financial security. This income stream could be a full-time job as well as a side hustle or freelance work, for example, or several part-time roles.
The share of people working more than one job has risen over the past few years after falling during the Covid pandemic. government data shows. About 8.4 million U.S. adults, or about 5.2% of the workforce, were working more than one job in April. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Andrew Garin, professor of economics at Carnegie Mellon University Heinz College, said, “When we look back, it is important to see that during the Covid period, this number actually dropped from the pre-Covid period to the lowest level in history.”
Technology platforms have provided many ways for employees to earn extra income. including DoorDash And Uber for delivery, Basrr And Study for freelancing, TaskRabbit for odd jobs, and social media channels for influencer work.
“[Technology] “It really opened up a new kind of side hustle for a lot of people,” Garin said.
Income hoarding can develop new skills
Generation Z workers are blurring the boundaries between personal and professional.
Seventy-four | Istock | Getty Images
Some income hoarders are also looking for ways to diversify their experience. At age 19, Aidan Hoo is working three gigs as an audiovisual and broadcast technician while also working towards a degree in computer science. “For me, getting a job mostly helps pay for college, but it also helps me learn new skills,” said Hoo, a Northern Virginia Community College student.
One 2025 survey According to Fiverr, 64% of Gen Z respondents in the US said having more than one way to make money is essential to financial security. More than half, 55%, said they believe traditional employment will become obsolete, while 39% reported they are already freelance or plan to do so to create an additional income stream.
The survey, conducted in partnership with online freelance marketplace Censuswide, surveyed 5,001 Gen Z and 2,000 Gen Alpha people in the US.
Concerns about the impact of artificial intelligence on jobs and mass layoffs have led some workers to seek backup sources of income so they can quickly pivot when needed. “I think it’s a symptom of the job market. It’s been a little bad for a while,” said Paul Wolfe, a former human resources executive and author of “People First.”
Companies can also benefit from employees’ income savings if additional work helps develop new skills and uncover talent, he said.
The key for employers is to keep the lines of communication open, Wolfe said. “When you police it … people like to hide it,” he said.
A better approach for employees with side jobs, he said, is: “Let’s explain what you do. And if we run into a problem, let’s agree that we’ll talk about it.”
Hoo said he obtained a scholarship that would turn into a full-time job at the Department of Defense after graduation. Still, he says he hopes to continue making audiovisual work: “With each concert, I learn how a particular piece of software or hardware works.”
— CNBC’s Sharon Epperson contributed reporting.
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