Business & Finance
Middle-class and educated workers drive growth in multiple jobs
Business Insider reports that middle-income earners and college graduates increasingly hold secondary jobs.
The short version
- A Richmond Federal Reserve analysis found that middle-income earners now outpace lower-income workers in holding multiple jobs.[Business Insider]
- College graduates comprised over half of all multiple jobholders by 2024, up from roughly 35 percent in the 1990s.[Business Insider]
- The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a recent rise in women holding secondary jobs, while a survey shows wider side hustle growth.[Business Insider]
- Official metrics may continue to undercount gig labor because standard measures require at least one traditional wage role.[Business Insider]
Key facts
- Middle-income Americans hold multiple jobs at higher rates than lower-income earners, according to a Richmond Federal Reserve analysis.[Business Insider]
- By 2024, individuals with college degrees represented more than half of multiple jobholders, rising from about 35 percent in the 1990s.[Business Insider]
- Recent Bureau of Labor Statistics figures show a rising number of women working more than one job.[Business Insider]
- A survey by Bankrate indicates American side hustle participation climbed from 19 percent in 2017 to 27 percent in 2025.[Business Insider]
What remains uncertain
- The total volume of gig workers remains partially unmeasured because official statistics require participants to hold at least one traditional wage position.[Business Insider]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.
- The side-hustle economy is getting more middle-classBusiness Insider metered