The Bureau of Labor Statistics released their most current reports, backing up what many of us are already aware of- Americans who hold multiple jobs is rising. Though not an outrageous comparison to this time last year, the report shows Americans holding down numerous jobs is at 5%, compared to the previous year when it was at 4.7%. Interestingly, women rank slightly higher than men when broken down into categories.

So, what gives? Why are Americans feeling this need to hold more than one job?

Well, first off, there’s this little, or big, thing called inflation. As the prices have increased for our everyday essentials, many people are finding they just aren’t able to keep up with only having their regular job. Living paycheck to paycheck, cutting back on particular items just isn’t cutting it. As the cost of living increases and employers cannot provide standard pay increases, it’s no wonder Americans are forced into finding additional means to get by.

Another influence that has contributed to Americans possessing more than one job is the rise in the popularity of social media. We spend countless hours browsing these platforms, witnessing how others spend their days and lives. Then we compare ourselves. We want to live a similar lifestyle to obtain the same fortunes they broadcast online. We see them hustling, sometimes holding down numerous jobs and finding the only way to get there ourselves is to step it up and prove we hold the same status.

Some additional reasons for having multiple jobs include; wanting to pay down debt faster or saving for a significant purchase such as a new home. Then some simply enjoy spending their time this way. Yes, there are such individuals like this out there! It’s possible they, too, are just very passionate about the nature of their side hustles. Or they feel the need to be immersed in various projects constantly.

My final objective is that regardless of why people are managing multiple jobs, one thing is certain: side hustles, gig work, second jobs, however you want to state it, are becoming steadfast in our culture. You should continue to see the numbers rising as more people jump on the bandwagon.