18th April 2026
The number of people in the UK holding more than one job is far higher than most official statistics suggest. Traditional surveys have long reported a small minority of "second‑job holders", but new linked data research shows that multiple jobholding is now a mainstream feature of the labour market, driven largely by economic necessity.
Official statistics: around 3% — but this is misleading
The Labour Force Survey and Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) typically report that only around 3% of workers have more than one job.
This is the figure most often quoted by government and media.
But these surveys rely on self‑reporting and usually ask only about a person's main job, meaning they miss short‑term, seasonal, or fluctuating secondary work.
Linked administrative data: the real figure is 14%-20%
New analysis using linked HMRC PAYE payroll data shows a very different picture:
14% to 20% of working‑age adults have multiple jobs at some point.
This includes people who switch between jobs week‑to‑week or month‑to‑month.
Many of these patterns are invisible in annual surveys.
This means the true scale of multiple jobholding is five to seven times higher than the headline figure.
Who is most likely to have more than one job?
Younger women (16–29)
Linked‑data analysis shows younger women are the group most likely to hold multiple jobs once geography and job type are accounted for.
This challenges the idea that multiple jobholding is evenly spread across the workforce.
Older workers (60+)
A separate dataset covering shift‑work industries finds:
22% of Baby Boomers (60–78) have more than one job
20% of Gen X, 18% of Millennials, 18% of Gen Z also hold multiple jobs
Cost‑of‑living pressures are the main driver, especially for older workers whose earnings have not kept pace with inflation.
This shows that multiple jobholding spans both ends of the age spectrum — but for different reasons.
Why are so many people working multiple jobs?
A. Low pay and insufficient hours
The strongest drivers identified by researchers are:
Low hourly pay
Limited contracted hours
Underemployment
Workers are combining roles simply to secure enough income or hours to live on.
This is especially true for younger workers and women.
Cost‑of‑living pressures
Shift‑work data shows that rising prices have pushed many workers — especially older ones — into taking second or third jobs to stay afloat.
16% of workers have two jobs, 2% have three, and 1% have four or more.
Labour market insecurity
Short‑term contracts, zero‑hours arrangements, and unpredictable scheduling mean many people cannot rely on a single employer for stable income.
Combining employment with self‑employment
Some workers mix PAYE employment with freelance or gig‑economy work.
This is more common in areas with higher unemployment, suggesting economic necessity rather than lifestyle choice.
Hidden full‑time work across multiple jobs
Research shows many women classified as “part‑time” are actually working near or above full‑time hours when their second jobs are included.
This exposes a major gap in how employment is measured.
Why the official numbers undercount reality
Researchers highlight two main reasons:
Survey design — most surveys ask only about a “main job”.
Self‑identification — many workers (especially women) report themselves as part‑time even when working full‑time hours across multiple roles.