Fifty-three percent of American workers participating in a new survey said they work two jobs to cover their expenses, and the same percentage said they work three jobs for the same reason.

The findings were shared in the People at Work 2025 series published by ADP Research.

Sixty percent of US workers polled said they are living paycheck to paycheck.

Additional findings regarding US respondents:

• 37% who work two jobs said they do so to save money to pay for extra expenses.
• 47% of those who work three jobs said they do so to save for extra expenses.
• 34% who work two jobs said they do so mainly to build up savings or retirement funds.
• 36% of those who work three jobs said they do so to build up savings or retirement funds.
• Other, less frequent reasons for working two or three jobs included a desire to build job experience, to fund education or training, to send money to others, or because of a lack of full-time jobs.

The People at Work 2025 series is built on the ADP Research Global Workforce Survey of almost 38,000 adults in 34 markets on six continents.

The project found that more than half of the world’s workers said they are living paycheck to paycheck, and 23% of them hold two or more jobs, according to the findings. 

“Global employment reached a record high in 2024, but workers in many parts of the world are still reeling from too little income and the high cost of living,” according to ADP.

To make ends meet, many people around the world are taking on one or more extra jobs. Among the world’s workers who hold two jobs, 59% said they still lived paycheck to paycheck; 61% of people with three or more jobs said they had a difficult time making ends meet.

“While people have different reasons for taking on extra work, holding two or more jobs can be a necessity in parts of the world where average wages are low relative to the cost of living. Africa, Latin America and parts of Asia have large informal or cash economies where it’s common for workers to make their living by cobbling together part-time and gig work,” according to ADP Research. “For the global workforce, bridging the gap in living costs isn’t as simple as working more jobs. It requires a growing economy that can increase wages while keeping inflation in check.”