The side-hustle economy is getting more middle-class
Recent data indicates that middle-income and college-educated Americans are increasingly taking on multiple jobs, shifting the profile of the 'side-hustle' economy. This trend suggests that secondary employment is becoming a tool for stability among traditionally affluent groups rather than just a survival strategy for low earners.
Why it matters
This shift reflects broader economic pressures and changing labor market dynamics, highlighting how the middle class is adapting to maintain financial security.
More women and middle-class Americans are seeking out second jobs. MoMo Productions/Getty Images Middle-income Americans are increasingly taking on multiple jobs, surpassing lower-income earners. The share of multiple jobholders with a college degree has risen, and more women have multiple jobs. It paints a picture of traditionally more affluent and stable Americans seeking out a second income. America's middle class is always hustling — and now, they're side hustling . The share of Americans with more than one job has been steadily rising for the last several years, and is still hovering at elevated levels. But the population holding multiple jobs looks different from before the pandemic, with a growing cohort of more traditionally stable Americans now seeking multiple income streams.
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