Middle-class Americans increasingly turning to side hustles for stability

The landscape of the side-hustle economy is shifting, with a notable increase in participation among middle-class, college-educated Americans and women. Historically, multiple jobholding was more evenly distributed across income levels or was a necessity for lower earners and a bonus for higher earners. However, recent data indicates a change, with middle-income earners now more likely to hold multiple jobs than their lower-earning counterparts.

Analysis from the Richmond Federal Reserve shows that college-educated workers have become a larger proportion of those holding multiple jobs, rising from around 35% in the 1990s to over half by 2024. Concurrently, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports an increase in the number of women working multiple jobs, leading to a wider gender gap in this employment pattern, particularly among younger women.

These trends suggest a growing desire for additional income streams and a buffer against economic uncertainty. A Bankrate survey indicated that the share of Americans with a side hustle rose from 19% in 2017 to 27% in 2025. Official measures may not fully capture gig work, but the data points to a broader embrace of supplementary employment for stability in an increasingly unpredictable labor market, especially amid white-collar layoffs attributed to AI.