Three in 10 Americans Say They Have Worked More or Taken Additional Jobs to Cover Rising Costs.
Three in 10 Americans say rising living costs have forced them to work more or take additional jobs over the past year, according to a new survey.
The Reuters/Ipsos poll found that the trend crosses party lines, with 23% of Republicans, 33% of Democrats and 33% of respondents classified as independent or other reporting taking that step. Overall, 66% said their income had failed to keep pace with increases in living costs in recent years.
The survey question combines working more with taking additional jobs, so the 30% figure cannot be described as the share holding second jobs. It also covers adults overall, rather than employed people alone, and measures reported behavior during the previous year rather than current employment arrangements.
The poll, conducted September 30 through October 5 among 4,506 adults, has an overall margin of error of 1.5 percentage points, with greater uncertainty for subgroups. The results come as renewed inflation adds pressure to household finances.
Consumer prices rose 0.6% in September and 3.7% over the previous year, and gasoline prices jumped 9.1% during the month, while the core index, excluding food and energy, increased 0.3%.
The poll also records widespread spending reductions in spending. Sixty-three percent reported eating out less often, 56% cut entertainment or streaming spending, and 49% reduced grocery spending. A quarter delayed or missed bill payments, while 24% postponed medical care. The published figures do not establish how many people working more also made each of those cuts.
Separate research from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York suggests households expect continued financial pressure. Its September Survey of Consumer Expectations found median anticipated household spending growth of 5.5% over the coming year, compared with expected household income growth of 3.1%.
Those figures describe expectations, rather than spending and income already recorded. Nevertheless, they show respondents anticipating expenses growing faster than household resources. Expected spending growth reached its highest level since May 2023.
The New York Fed also found that expected earnings growth declined to 2.6%, while one-year inflation expectations increased to 3.9%. Respondents’ assessments of their current finances and expectations for their future financial situations deteriorated.
Employment expectations were more encouraging. The perceived probability of losing a job over the next year fell to 13.5%, its lowest reading since December 2024. The perceived chance of finding work after losing a job improved slightly to 46.1%.
Neither survey measures whether additional earnings fully covered respondents’ higher costs. Nor does the Reuters/Ipsos finding establish a historical increase in second-job holding.
