Why 38% of US employees now depend on a second job to afford fundamental dwelling bills
For a rising variety of American employees, one job is not sufficient. In response to a 2025 survey by LendingTree, 38% of US employees now depend on a second job or aspect hustle to afford their fundamental dwelling bills.From groceries to hire and electrical energy payments, the price of each day life has pushed tens of millions to work past common hours. Amongst these with a aspect hustle, 61% mentioned they might not be capable to afford their present way of life with out that further earnings. The aspect hustle has moved from being a luxurious or inventive outlet to a lifeline for survival.
Extra work, fewer choices
Aspect hustles have been as soon as seen as a strategy to earn further earnings or discover private pursuits. In 2025, that notion is altering. The LendingTree survey discovered that 33% of individuals with aspect hustles mentioned they took them up as a consequence of rising cost-of-living bills. One other 29% mentioned they wanted the cash to pay common payments, whereas 28% used it for discretionary spending resembling garments or meals.Debt was one other main driver, with 24% reporting that their aspect hustle earnings is used to handle or repay present loans and bank card debt.
Inflation is excessive, however wages should not
In response to the identical LendingTree information, almost 49% of employees mentioned the state of the economic system pushed them to tackle a aspect hustle. 42% pointed particularly to inflation. Different cited causes included the continuing results of the pandemic (21%), rising rates of interest (20%), and market instability (14%).Even full-time employees are feeling the stress. Whereas wages stay largely stagnant, the prices of necessities like housing, meals, healthcare, and transportation have risen steadily.The survey additionally checked out how a lot persons are incomes from their aspect gigs. It discovered that the typical month-to-month earnings was $1,215, however the median was solely $400, suggesting that whereas a number of individuals make substantial cash, most are incomes a lot much less.There was additionally a putting gender hole in earnings. In response to LendingTree, males reported incomes a median of $1,580 per thirty days, whereas girls reported $749.
What second jobs appear like in 2025
The LendingTree survey supplied insights into the commonest forms of aspect hustles. The highest three have been meals and grocery supply (15%), on-line freelancing (15%), and part-time or seasonal work (14%). Different reported roles included housecleaning, promoting items or crafts on-line, reselling objects, and creating content material on platforms like TikTok or Instagram.Some employees are additionally turning to babysitting, tutoring, day buying and selling, rideshare driving, and even platforms like OnlyFans. The variability is vast, however the motivation is usually the identical. Most individuals should not taking these roles for ardour or enjoyable. They want the cash.
Most employees don’t wish to juggle jobs
Whereas aspect hustles at the moment are an everyday a part of life for a lot of, most employees would somewhat not have them. In response to LendingTree, 65% of these with a aspect hustle mentioned they would favor to depend on a single job, if that job supplied sufficient earnings to satisfy their wants.When requested what bills they might reduce first if their aspect hustle disappeared, 46% mentioned eating out, 39% talked about leisure, and one other 39% mentioned buying.
A brief repair that’s now a lifestyle
The LendingTree report paints a transparent image. For tens of millions of Individuals, the second job is just not a short-term repair. It’s a necessary a part of family earnings.These jobs not often include advantages, stability, or long-term development. They typically require working late nights, weekends, or hours squeezed in between different duties. However they’re now what retains the lights on and the payments paid.Till wages meet up with real-world bills, or the economic system shifts in favor of working households, aspect hustles will stay a essential monetary assist system. For a rising phase of the US workforce, they’re not non-obligatory. They’re the one strategy to survive.
