A number of Australians are taking up secondary employment endeavors due to the fact that many households are seeking means to mitigate the cost of rising rents, housing mortgages and basic commodities.
According to new data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, nearly one million people are now holding down two jobs and this is a sign that it is being felt and is not just people who are unemployed.
As of 2025, 973,000 people in Australia had multiple jobs. This translates to 6.5% of all people in employment in the country.
More women than men in the labour force had multiple employment. This had a rate of 7.6% for women and 5.6% for men.
Those age 20 to 24 had the highest rate of having multiple employment. This had a rate of 8.2%.
Those who worked in community and personal services had the highest rate of multiple employment. This had a rate of 11.3%.
The same thing is happening in the broader “side hustle” economy that encompasses secondary employment as well as other small business activities outside of a primary job.
Far from all of it will show up in the surveys that are used to gauge the labor market, but the trend is clear more people are hunting for extra ways to bring in money.
This comes as the cost of living continues to remain high. According to the ABS Selected Living Cost Indexes, the annual cost of living increased in all household types in the year to the September 2025 quarter.
This increase was in the ranges of 2.6 to 3.9%. These were driven by the realms of housing, food and non alcoholic beverages.
For some families however, inflation is only part of the issue. The relative cost of essential expenses is the bigger concern for some families.
Housing affordability is a significant divide. The number of low income families considered to be housing stressed is approximately 1.26 million for 2025.
Housing stress is viewed as spending over 30% of disposable income on housing costs. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
Economists and social policy groups have documented how holding multiple jobs can reflect very different realities. For some, it is a deliberate choice to build skills or expand on a business idea or supplementing savings.
But for many others it is a necessity impelled by bills no longer fitting within a single pay packet particularly if hours are irregular or households are trying to keep up with rent increases and mortgage repayments.
The breakdown suggests the added work is concentrated among younger Australians and in service facing industries that already rely on variable shifts, including care and personal services.
That matters for policymakers because the same industries are central to debates about workforce shortages, productivity and workforce participation, including how to keep people in sectors such as aged care, disability support and health services.
A lift in side hustles also has practical implications for tax administration and worker protections.
Australians moving between wages, contracting and micro business income face different rules around withholding, deductions and superannuation depending on how the work is structured.
It can also complicate household budgeting when income becomes less predictable.
With the cost of living set to remain the dominant political issue the rise of second jobs is likely to feature in arguments over wages and social safety nets and housing and in the design of policies aimed at reducing pressure on essential expenses rather than relying on households to work more hours to stay afloat.
