Timeka Gomillion works two jobs – as an assistant at the event center, and as a receptionist at the student center – while completing her computer engineering studies at the University of the State of Columbia.
The 35-year-old woman said she is juggling multiple jobs due to financial need – and due to the rising cost of living, she expects to take care of several jobs even after she finds a position in her career.
Another job would be easy, but I know that if I have one, it’s a check that I can put aside or it can be my play money,” he said.
Gomillion is among a growing number of Americans who are “multiplying,” or multitasking to build financial security. That income stream could be a side hustle or freelance work in addition to a full-time job, for example, or a few part-time roles.
After falling during the Covid crisis, the number of people working more than one job has increased in the past few years, government data shows. In April, about 8.4 million American adults, or about 5.2% of the workforce, were working multiple jobs, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
“It’s important to look back and see that actually with Covid, that number dropped from the pre-Covid period to the lowest in history,” said Andrew Garin, an assistant professor of economics at Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College.
Technology platforms have provided many ways for workers to earn more money, including DoorDash again Uber delivery, Fiverr again Working up for freelance work, TaskRabbit for odd jobs and social media channels for influencer gigs.
“[Technology] it really opened up a new kind of hustle and bustle,” said Garin.
Accumulation of income can create new skills
Gen Z workers are blurring the lines between personal and professional.
Seventy four | Stock | Getty Images
Other income stacks are also looking to diversify their experience. At 19, Aidan Hoo is working three gigs as an audio and broadcast technician while working towards a degree in computer science. “Finding jobs, for me, really helps pay for my college, but it also helps me learn new skills,” said Hoo, a student at Northern Virginia Community College.
In a 2025 survey from Fiverr, 64% of Gen Z respondents in the US said having multiple ways to make money is important to financial security. More than half, 55%, said they believed traditional employment would become obsolete, while 39% reported that they already freelanced or planned to do so to create an alternative source of income.
The free online marketplace surveyed 5,001 Gen Z and 2,000 Gen Alpha individuals in the United States.
Concerns about the impact of artificial intelligence on jobs, as well as mass layoffs, have led some workers to seek backup sources of income so they can turn around quickly should the need arise. “I think that’s a sign of the job market. It’s been a while now,” said Paul Wolfe, a former human resources executive and author of the book “Human Beings First.”
Companies can benefit from stacking workers’ wages, too, he said, if their extra jobs help build new skills and utilize talents.
The key for employers is to keep the lines of communication open, Wolfe said. “If you’re a police officer … people like it, hide it,” he said.
The best way for busy workers, he said: “Let’s not disclose what you are doing. And if we encounter a problem, let’s agree that we will talk about it.”
Hoo said he received a scholarship that will result in him working full-time at the Ministry of Defense upon graduation. Still, he says he hopes to continue doing audiovisual work, too: “With every gig, I learn how a certain piece of software or hardware works.”
— CNBC’s Sharon Epperson contributed reporting.
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