One in five Australians work a second job to keep up with rising costs and almost half fear they will be made redundant.
An employment survey of more than 6,000 Australians has found that inflation and an employer-driven labor market are pushing more workers to take on second jobs, while 18 per cent are working longer hours in their current role to reach End of the month.
Two in three remain in their jobs rather than look for better wages elsewhere and only 12 per cent had received a pay rise that kept pace with rising costs, Randstad data revealed.
The survey echoed a discouraging change in the psyche of the average Australian worker, Randstad’s Jo Jakobs said.
“They prefer to stay and take refuge in their jobs, whether they are happy or not,” he told AAP.
“In any other type of environment, they would have sought to improve their circumstances.”
The data found that 44 per cent of Australian workers were worried about losing their job, even though the unemployment rate stood at 4.1 per cent.
Thousands of Australians are taking on second jobs to make ends meet. Pictured: A cafe worker in Sydney.
However, with consumer confidence flagging and margins tighter for businesses, federal budget forecasts indicated unemployment could rise to 4.5 percent next year.
“There are some companies that are obviously skating on some pretty delicate ice,” Ms. Jakobs said.
“The reality is, to have a healthy economy, we need to have companies that are profitable, so that they can employ and pay people, so that those people can afford to raise their families, pay their mortgage and not live for fear of losing their jobs.’
While some people stay put for reasons of stability, Mikaela Copland works 45 hours a week between a part-time position, her own business and gig economy work to cover costs.
“When you switch contexts and look for jobs, different jobs, you can sacrifice your attention span,” the 25-year-old told AAP.
“It can be quite anxiety-provoking.”
The data found that 44 per cent of Australian workers were worried about losing their job, even though the unemployment rate stood at 4.1 per cent. Pictured: A traffic controller in Sydney.
He said his work in the informal economy allowed him to earn the same income he did before the pandemic.
“They’re a great way to earn extra money you might have earned before COVID, to save for car insurance, vacations and things that shouldn’t be considered luxuries,” she said.
The study found that work-life balance was the most important factor for workers choosing an employer, but Jakobs said that’s not an option for those who work multiple jobs.
It was a “time of survival” for many Australians, as taking on extra jobs required greater physical and mental strain, he said.