The number of multiple job-holders in Australia rose to 1.0 million in December 2024, up from 957,800 in December 2023, according to data released 7 March by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Multiple job-holders accounted for 6.7% of employed people in December 2024, and their numbers have been growing.

“Between 1995 and 2019, the multiple job-holding rate remained between 5.0% and 6.0%,” according to the bureau. “However, following a large decline at the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in June 2020, the multiple job-holding rate rose and has remained at an all-time high of between 6.5% and 6.7% since December 2022.”

The rate of multiple job-holding was also higher for women than men at 7.6% compared with 6.0%.

Younger people were also more likely to hold multiple jobs with 9.0% of those aged 20 to 24 holding multiple jobs compared with 5.1% of those aged 65 and older.

Multiple job-holders usually worked 30.6 hours, on average, in their main job, and 9.0 hours in their secondary job(s) for a total of 39.6 hours per week on average. Those who held only one job usually worked 34.9 hours per week on average.