Surge in workers doing two jobs

There has been a dramatic increase in the number of people doing second jobs, with women accounting for most of the increase. The number of people in second jobs rose to 1.1 million in the autumn 2001 Labour Force Survey, an increase of 68% since 1984.

Almost three-fifths (59%) of all second jobs are held by women and, not surprisingly, part-time workers are almost three times as likely to have a second job as full-time workers. In autumn 2001 7.9% of part timers had a second job, compared with 2.8% of full timers.

The analysis of second-job holders, published in Labour Market Trends magazine, found distinct gender differences. Most men with second jobs were in the top earning occupational groups in their main job, but most women with second jobs were in the low earning occupational groups. Whereas men with a second job earned more on average in their main job than those with only one job, women with second jobs earned less in their main jobs than women with only one job.

Occupations where people were most likely to have second jobs included cleaners, sports and fitness occupations, health professionals and childcare and personal services. Teaching also had a high rate of second jobs, with 84,000 teachers having a second job, or 7.3% of all those employed in teaching.

* Labour Market Trends, May 2002, available from The Stationery Office, tel: 0870 600 5522.