In today's intense economic climate, Gen Z is again leading a shift in work culture by redefining the idea of having multiple jobs.
What Is Poly-Employment?
According to a new study by the workforce management platform Deputy, poly-employment is dramatically increasing. Deputy's Big Shift report analyzed data from 120,000 shift workers worldwide over 81 million shifts and found that more workers are taking on multiple job roles to counter the escalating cost of living, making poly-employment a significant trend.
Workers holding multiple jobs are not new. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics also shows that in December 2003, 7,044,000 people in the U.S. worked more than one job. By December 2023, that figure rose to around 8,565,000, but according to Deputy, the number of "poly-employed shift workers" more than doubled from 2021 to 2023.
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Who Are Poly-Workers?
Deputy found that the majority (78%) of poly-workers work in the hospitality sector, with 12% in healthcare, 6% in retail, and 5% in the service industry, and also observed that 60% of poly-employed workers are women and are disproportionately younger.
Dr. Shashi Karunanethy, consulting economist for Deputy, explains that the main reason workers take on multiple jobs is to make ends meet, particularly younger women and those with family responsibilities.
Why Is Poly-Employment Gaining Traction?
Karunanethy explains that working multiple jobs can provide workers with flexible, additional, and diversified income. Many workers seek jobs outside the strict 9-to-5 schedule to balance personal responsibilities. However, the benefits of this flexibility are often limited for those who must take on multiple roles to earn a livable income.
Working more than one job can also hedge against ongoing layoffs in the economy, reassuring them that they will remain at least partially employed.
Another reason poly-employment may be increasing is the decreasing stigma around having multiple jobs. Workers often hid their side jobs in the past, but now it is becoming more acceptable to share consulting or freelance work with employers openly. Employers often celebrate having a portfolio of consulting work or a unique side hustle.
The Metaphor of Polyamory
Elisabeth Sheff, a relationship coach and CEO of Sheff Consulting, juggles multiple jobs herself and specializes in counseling polyamorous couples. She has observed a rise in clients who hold multiple jobs and show interest in polyamory. Sheff highlights that technology has facilitated applying to multiple jobs and accessing information about polyamory.
Sheff draws parallels between polyamory and poly-work, noting how people pursue multiple jobs to fulfill various needs. For instance, while one job might satisfy social and enjoyable work environment needs, it may lack health insurance, prompting individuals to seek additional employment.
However, Sheff suggests this analogy may have its limits. Polyamorous relationships are ideally very mutual, where everyone gets some serious benefits from them. In contrast, in the work world, employers derive significant benefits and seek high levels of loyalty from their employees yet often fail to reciprocate the same level of loyalty.
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