Survey: 64% of workers say they plan to get a second job or start a side hustle

More than 6 in 10 U.S. workers say they’re likely to get a second job or start a side hustle in the next year to prop up their income, according to a report from the American Staffing Association and The Harris Poll. 

If laid off, 28% of workers who rent and 14% of homeowners said they’d have less than a month of savings as a financial cushion. 

In a survey of more than 2,000 workers, 19% said their savings could cover less than a month of expenses. Another third said their savings could last for one to five months. 

Plans to get a second job or start a side hustle varied in several ways. For instance, 75% of employed parents with minor children said they were likely to make a move on seeking additional work, compared to 55% of employed adults without children under age 18. 

By generation, 76% of millennials and 73% of Generation Z workers said they wanted to get a second job or start a side hustle, compared to 59% of Generation X and 37% of baby boomers. 

Frequent social media users were also more likely to indicate an intention to pursue additional income in the next year, with 84% of daily social media users saying so. About 65% of weekly and monthly social media users and half of those who aren’t on social media said the same. 

Nearly 3 in 4 workers say they can only meet their basic living expenses, according to a report from Resume Now. In addition, about 3 in 10 workers said they’ve taken on debt to cover their living expenses. 

In a Monster survey, 95% of respondents said their wages haven’t kept up with the rising cost of living. In response, many workers said they’re looking for higher-paying jobs, taking on second jobs and pursuing part-time work. 

Gen Z workers, in particular, are turning to side hustles to build skills and earn more money, according to a Quicken report. Side hustlers said they feel more financially secure and prepared for the future with upskilling opportunities.